Remember and Honor

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 145: Today, I am grateful for a pause to remember and honor. 

There is something deeply humbling about the one who is not only willing to give their life for another human being, but then does. They did not know on a "last phone call" or the "I'll see you see you soon." would not be as they had anticipated. 

For the soldier, situational awareness can be the difference between life and death. Even then, the unexpected happens. It often comes with a choice. 

The phrase "no man left behind" is often associated with the U.S. Marines, but it really has roots that go all the way back to the Revolutionary War where everyone was considered important, including the musicians. There were no troops to spare. The Marines were the first to include it in 1889 landing party rules. It stated, “No man shall be left behind on account of darkness or the advanced hour of the night.”

A Great Jubilee Day, first held on Monday, May 26, 1783, in North Stratford, now Trumbull, Connecticut, commemorated the end of fighting in the American Revolutionary War. The Rev. James Beebe's son was a Captain with George Washington at Valley Forge. 

May 30, 1868, is the first record of a national "Memorial Day" declaration, but it was called "Decoration Day." The country was still united in name, but divided in the hearts of those who had lost so much and so much during the "The War Between the States" that we now call the Civil War. The South set their own days, as did many communities across the nation. It took 100 years for it to become Memorial Day as we know it today. 

"Decoration Day," the name "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882. It grew in popularity after World War II and was legally declared the official name by federal law in 1967. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the federal legislation that officially changed the holiday's name from Decoration Day to Memorial Day, cementing it as a national day of remembrance. 

It is a day to remember the lives, the loss, and the time it takes to heal after war. The empty seat at the table is real. It is a reminder that freedom is not free. 

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13

That is the ultimate in human love. 

Today, I am grateful for a pause to remember and honor.

Genuine Affection

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 144: Today, I am grateful for genuine affection. 

I am currently reading a series by Lynn H. Blackburn. It is the "Gossamer Falls" series. It is set in North Carolina. It is full of big families, humor, family feuds, and complicated relationships, because real life is messy. 

In the series, the patriarchs and matriarchs are respected. The long, deep, lasting relationships go back for generations. Genuine affection is present in how they "deal" with and protect one another. The men are faithful, fierce, and protective. The women are smart and strong. The southern sense of being good neighbors and hospitality runs through each story. Faith is a part of how they manage family, relationships, and community. I love good fiction with vibrant characters. 

This was my verse of the day:

"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." -Romans 12:10

In real life, genuine affection is a beautiful thing. It brings people together. It makes communities strong. We can have differences but still have a deep, genuine love for each other. Most families are an example of this every day. So are our work families, church families, and in our neighborhoods and communities. To take delight in honoring each other is to pour out genuine kindness and caring. 

Some of our most precious friendships grow out of ones that have a tenuous beginning. It is so easy to see our differences first, but when we are intentional about honoring each other with the same kind of grace we like to receive, genuine affection grows. 

Love big. Love genuinely and with humility. Savor the sweetness that grows from that kind of love. 

Today, I am grateful for genuine affection. 

Good Neighbor Days

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 143: Today, I am grateful for good neighbor days. 

One of the best parts of the warmer weather is seeing and talking to our neighbors. We have the best neighbors and neighborhood. We are a little community that watches out for each other. I can hardly believe we have been here for 30 years. I remember when we were "the young couple" in the neighborhood. 

It was one of those days where the reciprocity was tangible, even though it was unexpected. One shared a tool, another had a chance to play with the power washer to aid another, another shared sweet treats, and dear Mike has Daisy Mae perfectly spoiled with Milk Bones he shares with the dogs on each side of him and behind him. 

This scripture was my verse of the day:

"Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." -Romans 15:2

I love that we take care of each other. We only have 7 driveways on our little bend in the road of our 1970's subdivision. We have plenty of space and we are often found in our front yards because that is where the people gather. We've watched the Lau children grow their entire lives (minus Marina's first six weeks). We've seen our neighbors' children grow up and build lives of their own. It is fun to see them when they visit. 

It is not the "in your business" kind of neighbors. It is the genuine caring that I know is not everywhere. You can buy a house, but a neighborhood is a gamble (unless you are Ackerman's and buy a house for the neighborhood and we are so glad they did!). 

My country roots mean that a "neighbor" can be anyone on your road for several miles. It is a part of country living that I missed. We were blessed to find a couple of special neighbors in Peoria that we still deeply treasure, but it was not how people lived. When we moved to our current home, we hit the jackpot. When I look at the houses now, people have come and stayed. 

There are often changes that come with different seasons of life, but our little bend in the road has been the same for well over a decade... and for most it is more than twenty years. For that, I am truly grateful. 

Today, I am grateful for good neighbor days.

Stones of Remembrance

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 142: Today, I am grateful for stones of remembrance. 

It is Memorial Day weekend and the beginning of summer for our students, teachers, and aides. The long weekend brings everyone a break in the schedule. It is a time to gather with family and friends. It is a time of remembering loved ones lost and those who died so that we could know freedom.  

Some will visit cemeteries. I love to read the grave markers in old cemeteries. Hometown cemeteries are places where we can find names, dates, and other information about our extended family. 

Others will look through photos to share stories and memories. A few will write the stories down to pass them on to the next generation. In this day of technology, I fear some of the important things will be lost as we rely on things that quickly become outdated and hard to access. 

This passage has always been a favorite of mine. When the children of Israel finally get to cross over into the promised land, Joshua gives them this instruction: 

"Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” -Joshua 4:21-23

"That your children may know." Stones of remembrance matter. Stone lasts for many generations. It is why we use it for gravestones and other items we want to be resilient over time and through many seasons of weather. 

Share the food, the stories, and the memories as you make some more this weekend. 

Today, I am grateful for stones of remembrance.  

Quirky and Unique

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 141: Today, I am grateful for the quirky and unique. 

This was posted on Pinterest. It grabbed my attention for the art and then the heart as I read the quote. 

"Be the flawed, quirky, unique, beautiful, and magical person that you are." -Jennifer Lambein

Quirky and unique are beautiful and magical. It goes with Dr. Seuss's quote, "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" We all have different likes, dislikes, favorites, and absolute "no's." Embrace them. 

Even identical twins have differences. A mother can identify them from their walk, posture, or the way they talk with their hands. We are all created uniquely in the image of God. 

Embrace the quirks. Celebrate the unique... like boutiques. Walk in the wonder for being an original. Being original helps us find our strengths and know our weaknesses. That is part of being a family, being in the body of Christ, and being a community member. 

"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." -Ephesians 4:4-6

Embrace the quirky and unique today. Be patient with those who are different. Try to see with God goggles. Look on others with love. Be content when you look in the mirror.  

Today, I am grateful for the quirky and unique. 

Endurance and Encouragement

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 140: Today, I am grateful for endurance and encouragement.

Encouragement and endurance are present in relationships that grow in strength and last. People are complicated and relationships can be messy, but we can live together in harmony and unity. We can disagree and still love deeply. 

This year, we turn 250 as a country. It seems so long ago and it was in some way. In others, if you think about generations and how long they lived, our great-grandfathers great-grandfathers were the sons and daughters of the Revolution. They were born in or shortly after the war and the new beginnings of what we know of as the United States of America. King's Mountain, the Catawba River, and Lincolnton, N.C. was where they planted their dreams and were willing to die for them. 

There was much diversity in the ranks. The Bess (Bosch/Best) came from Germany and were among the first settlers in that area of North Carolina. Others came from Scotland, France, and other places. English became the common language. 

They came from different houses of worship, but they recognized God's presence in their daily lives. They respected the things that created a strong sense of morality. Most came for unsettled land and opportunities unavailable in their homelands. The weather could be unkind at times, but the mountains were beautiful. 

They were resilient people with working hands (the men and women) with determined spirits. Their differences were put aside when protecting their homes. Endurance and encouragement allowed them to come together in unity with harmony.  

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" -Romans 15:5-6

Together we are still better. Instead of worrying about what our brothers and sisters are getting "wrong," we might pray for wisdom and clarity in our own faith walks. "Create in me a clean heart," that seeks His face every day. To love generously and to encourage each other as we all read the Word together and let the Holy Spirit be our aide and our guide. 

Today, I am grateful for endurance and encouragement.

Wildflowers

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 139: Today, I am grateful for wildflowers.

Our zinnias are not wild. We plant them from harvested seeds and wait. I will never, ever get over the miracle or the wonder that from last  year's dead blooms comes this year's new life. 

Spiritually, I know that is at the core of what it means to be in a relationship with the living God of the universe, but the miracle of it all still amazes me. He brings dead things back to life. From what is spent out, tired, and seemingly dead comes rebirth. 

There are places where zinnias are wildflowers. We do not live in that zone. The cheerful wildflower is native to the United States and Mexico, where they still grow naturally in the wild, but not in central Illinois. The bright, colorful blooms make them a beloved favorite in our yard. It is so hard to wait for them to grow, but it is worth the wait. 

They bloom in 30, 60 , and 90 days from seed, depending on the variety. Even Mama had success with zinnias. Flowers were her gardening challenge. 

Easy to grow and wonderfully low-maintenance! Zinnias bring vibrant beauty and pollinator-friendly charm to any outdoor space. We love the crazy mix of colors. Ours are sprouting as I write. I check every day to see the progress. A bonus is that the hummingbirds seem to like the red ones. 

This scriptures uses "lilies" or "wildflowers," depending on the translations. We have daylilies in our yard. They do survive and thrive after our cold winters. In fact, planting them is a commitment. They are hearty and determined. They have a long blooming season, so we enjoy them. I think of them when I read this scripture: 

"Consider the lilies (wildflowers in some translations), how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." -Luke 12:27

Look for the new life that springs from seeds planted from blooms that die in the fall. Rebirth is always amazing. 

Today, I am grateful for wildflowers.