It is important as parents to actively teach our children about the meaning of important events, dates, holidays — to help them understand the significance of the moment.
Like the Old Testament Jewish leader Joshua who commanded the people to set up stones of remembrance, we believe that having a memory of things past is vital to the present and future morality of a people.
Joshua 4:20-24 “And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ’What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ’Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.
On Memorial Day, take the time to find narratives of heroism and sacrifice and tell them to your children. Celebrate the people who gave their life to defend our nation, and counter the trend of building “men without chests.”
To this end, my inbox today gave me this gem from my friend David Lane:
“This Medal of Honor recipient Master [Sgt.] Roy Benavidez was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Ronald Reagan for his actions in South Vietnam in May of 1968.
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As we celebrate Memorial Day in America, and live in freedom, we thank God for you men and women in the United States Armed Forces — and your sacrifice.
All gave some, some gave all.”
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