memorial day carries a heaviness that words can hardly explain — a day of remembrance for the men and women who gave their lives serving this great country.
My pastor, Lloyd Doyle put it best during his sermon yesterday — I was so moved by this prayer I had to share with you all. For those who are uncertain, scared, + grieving for our country I hope reading this will help you heal.
“This year, a religious holy day of Pentecost falls a day before the secular holiday known as Memorial Day. Our attention is divided today. Our worship is focused on you, Lord, and on the feast of Pentecost, which is proper. We also want to take a moment to be in prayer for our needs around Memorial Day.
Lord, until there is war no more and until you wipe away every tear from every eye, we will remember. We will remember those who, while serving in the military, died for the sake of something greater than themselves. We will remember and give thanks for the citizens who knowingly put themselves in harm’s way so that others might be free.
We remember the fallen from our nation’s conflicts from the War of Independence up to this day. Lord, we especially lift up the families who are grieving, who feel their loss every day for a sibling, parent, child, friend, or spouse who lost their life while wearing the uniform of our country.
O God, until we beat swords into plowshares and smelt drones into John Deere tractors, and war and violence are no more, we will remember.
We will also remember that peace does not just happen. Violence often will not cease unless someone stands in the breach, and we remember how costly this is. We remember the price paid in priceless lives cut short. We will remember that war is hell on earth.
Lord God, until Christ Jesus, the Prince of Peace, returns and violence, death, and grief are no more — and until there is no need for people to be in harm’s way on behalf of others, we will remember those who did and died while doing so. We pray that they all rest in your peace.
And sadly, Lord, we also acknowledge that for far too many service personnel, after their active duty is over, battles still rage on — internal battles within the psyche and the soul. After fighting in hostile, face-to-face combat, after guiding drones from distant places of safety, or after serving in so many other ways, ex-soldiers sometimes continue to be besieged. Sometimes it is not seen by others. Sometimes not even by themselves.
Lord, you know that not all Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force personnel do not die in action yet they do die from their military service. Lord, tomorrow is Memorial Day, a day for national remembrance, even when many years have passed. May we never forget the service or the sacrifice of those who died on behalf of their country.
And Lord again, we trust that they all rest in your peace. And until that glad getting up day comes when all will be peace and all will be light and life, we will continue to pray this and all our prayers in the name of Jesus, for he has taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.”