Memorial Day: “Do You Love Me”
Hello Friends,
How are you doing today? Do you know what holiday we celebrate this weekend? People often refer to this holiday as the official start of summer or the “Gateway to Summer Vacation.” That’s right! We celebrate Memorial Day. And do you know anything about Memorial Day, besides the fact that there is no school and that a lot of people go shopping? No, well let me tell you…
The origins of Memorial Day can be traced back to local observances for Confederate soldiers with neglected gravesites during the Civil War. One of the first Declaration Days was held in Columbus, Mississippi, on April 25, 1866 by women who decorated graves of Confederate soldiers who perished in the battle at Shiloh with flowers. On May 5, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, the tradition of placing flowers on veterans’ graves was continued by the establishment of Decoration Day by an organization of Union veterans, the Grand Army of the Republic. General Ulysses S. Grant presided over the first large observance, a crowd of about 5,000 people, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on May 30, 1873. This tradition continues to thrive in cemeteries of all sizes across the country today; and the act of decorating the gravesites is an act of love.
Overall, Memorial Day is a day in which we pause to remember those who have served and are serving in the armed forces. Memorial Day is a day in which we take to heart the question that Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Have your parents ever asked you if you love them? And what did you say? Jesus not only asks Peter this question, but he asks us the same question. Jesus wants us to love him more than anything else in the world. Jesus wants us to love him more than going outside, picking on our siblings, playing with Barbies or trucks, and more than our friends. Jesus wants us to love him more than anything. It is really tough to do that, though!
So on this Memorial Day, take time to love Jesus and all those who have served or are serving to protect you and keep you say. And remember, when Jesus asks “Do you love me,” make sure to always say “YES!” Love Jesus more than anything else in the world! I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day!
Your Friend, Holy Spirit!
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