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This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 John 3:16 NIV

Parades. Picnics. BBQ’s. The beginning of summer. Holiday. Family gatherings. Remembering our loved ones.

Are you celebrating?

Today we observe Memorial Day, an American holiday which honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.

How did the death of those who sacrificed their lives for us become a reason to celebrate?

Because, as painful as death is, love is bigger. Love conquers everything, even death.

God is love.

And God is good.

There is no greater love than to lay down your life for someone else. My heart is full of gratitude for the men and women who have died serving our country. They, and their families, have sacrificed greatly, putting their love into action for our country and for us. As widows who know death on a very personal level, we truly understand the cost. The terrible, heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, cost of losing someone. The cost that never seems to end.

Sometimes it can be very difficult to talk about death and dying in the same breath when we are talking about God’s goodness and His love. The two seem totally incompatible, but they aren’t. In fact, God’s goodness and His love are most evident in death. The fact that He would humble Himself to become a man, to sacrifice His life on the Cross for our sins, so we could be made Holy and live in fellowship with Him for all eternity, is the ultimate act of love. He paid the price, He saved us, He sealed us with the Holy Spirit so we could be transformed into His likeness. Because of His love, we can lay down our lives for our brothers, just as the soldiers we are remembering this holiday have done.

Love conquers death. As widows we have experienced the magnificence of God’s love in ways many others haven’t. We know first-hand the power of God’s love over the agonizing pain of death. As we walk forward let us continually honor God’s sacrifice by laying down our lives (our wants, our needs, our desires) to love others sacrificially. Our love, our service may be used by Him to conquer eternal death.

Will you please pray with me?

Dear Holy Father, we praise You for Your Goodness and for Your Love! There is no greater love than to lay down Your life for us! Father, today we lift up our brothers and sisters who have followed Your example, put their love into action and laid down their lives for our freedom. Please comfort their family and friends as we honor their sacrifice. Help all of us love sacrificially, for Your Glory! In Your Son’s Precious and Holy Name, Amen.