When the Lord finished speaking with Moses on Mt. Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. Exodus 31:18
When our family moved into the first and only home we had ever owned in 1990, the initials of the children who had lived there before us were etched into the concrete next to the basketball goal on the driveway. They remained there through storms, heat, wind, rain and lots of basketball!
I began to think about how strong things are that are written in stone and how long they can endure. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments written by the finger of God on two stone tablets. These rules were written in stone because they are God’s rules, and He wanted them to stand the test of time.
Last week, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the widow of an American veteran as she reminisced about her husband, his character, and the country he loved. She referred to her Bill as courageous, fearless, loving, faithful, and loyal. He flew countless missions in wars, saw unspeakable atrocities, felt the adoration of his country, the pride of saluting his flag, and the honor of serving his country.
She teared up when she told of how hard it was for him when “the bands stop playing, the parades stop marching, and the crowds fade away”. It seems that he began to miss the excitement, the challenge, the brotherhood, the dedication, and the service. He died eighteen years ago, but she said the service to his country, his family, and his faith were his greatest achievements.
As we celebrate Memorial Day with cookouts, water sports, and days off, let’s write it in stone that we will never forget the men and women who served our country so faithfully and so well. Let’s never forget to give them a salute, a well done, a thank you for your service, and a heartfelt thank you.
Is it enough to think today of all our brave, then put away the thought until a year has sped? Is this full honor for our dead? Is it enough to sing a song and deck a grave; and all year long forget the brave who died that we; might keep our great land proud and free? Full service needs a greater toll, that we who live give heart and soul to keep the land they died to save, and be ourselves, in turn, the brave! Annette Wynne
All gave some; some gave all. copied