Worthy Of Honor

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Remember

It’s Memorial Day and I will be taking flowers out to the cemetery to place at the graves of Bert and my mom . I know this holiday is about military personnel who died in service to their country but, just as the name indicates, I think it is also a good day to remember the people who have served you and impacted your life.

As I was buying the flowers, I questioned my motives. I asked myself, “Do you think they are there at the cemetery?” (I know some people who will go to the grave of someone they loved to “talk” to them.)

No, I know where they are. They are in heaven and I talk to Bert many mornings right from the comfort of my recliner. So why the flowers and the trip to Smith Mountain? Don’t I honor their memory several times a day in my thoughts and with my words? What am I trying to prove?

I guess for me, it all comes down to the concept that honor looks like something. I mean words are so important but sometimes you have to put skin on that thing.

It Looks Like Something

One of my favorite books is “Honor – What Love Looks Like.” It shares the concept that we can love humanity because humanity was created in the image of God. Look for the facet of God hidden in the person and honor that as an act of love. And when you honor that, you draw out the best in the most despicable people. Jesus Culture uses the same concept in their “treasure hunts.” Anyone can find the dirt but if you dig deep, you will eventually find the gold hidden in people.

It’s important to honor people with our words. However, there is something powerful that happens when we honor them with our actions. For instance, I have a friend that I’ve gone to lunch with for almost 30 years. Whenever we go out, I will try to pick up the tab. I don’t do that because she can’t pay her way, I do that because it’s an expression of honor. It’s saying “I value your friendship. You are worth more than the price of lunch.” Much in the same way, leaders of nations around the world, exchange gifts. Not as an act of charity but as an act of honor.

Last week a local service club donated a significant gift to Audrey’s Dream Big platform. In the course of the meeting they announced they would be placing flags on the graves of veterans on Saturday and were looking for volunteers. Audrey and I raised our hands ( also volunteering my daughter Sarah who wasn’t there)! So, early Saturday morning, Audrey, Sarah, and I trekked out to the cemetery and joined ranks with others to place flags at the appropriate graves. It was really fun and interesting, trying to figure out which conflict the veteran may have served in, reading names that are no longer used, remarking on veterans who married veterans. We did it to honor the vets – but we also wanted to honor the club that had been so generous to Dream Big. It was a tangible way of saying your compassion has moved us to honor you by working alongside you.

This Is For Your Sake Too

Of course, honor has its rewards. You reap what you sow. One of the “Big Ten” commandments is to honor our parents, promising we will reap a reward for it.

 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
 “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise–  “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:1-3 (NIV)

It’s A Good Day

Today is a good day to remember and honor those who have passed on. I will take flowers to the graves of my husband and mother as an expression of honor for their lives. It’s a good day to honor the men and women who lost their lives fighting for the values and ideals of our nation. To say, we will not forget the great price paid for our freedoms.

More importantly today is a good day to remember to honor the living. To “look for the gold” and love people by honoring what God has placed in them. I think I will try to do that too.

Prayer Matters

Today I am praying for the families of our veterans. I’m praying their loved ones will come home whole – body, soul and spirit. I’m praying they will be provided for financially. I’m praying for those who have lost loved ones to be healed of grief. I’m praying the children of vets will not come under the influence of an orphan spirit.

Thanks for reading my article. What are you praying for today? Leave a comment so I can partner with you in prayer or just let me know what you think of this article.

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