This is Memorial Day weekend—

a time we come together to remember our fallen soldiers and sailors—those who sacrificed their very lives for our freedom.

Truly, I stand in awe at this, their sacrifice.

My husband Darrell was internally compelled to join the Navy Seabees—

after our country was attacked in 2001—the day we have come to recognize as 9-11.

I will never forget the day of that attack.

• How it affected my home.
• How it affected my students.
• How it affected my classroom.
• How it affected my life.
• How it affected my country.

Early that day, during the nine o’clock hour, we were deeply involved in the English lesson of that day.  It was a typical day at school, and then, there came a voice from the open classroom doorway, voicing these words:  “Have you seen what’s happening?”

We were encouraged to turn on our classroom television, which hung suspended from a brace in the front right corner of the room.

EVERYONE STARED AT THE TV SCREEN—

AGHAST AT WHAT WE SAW OCCURING IN NEW YORK CITY—

FOREVER CHANGED BY WHAT WE SAW HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY.

Then I turned away from the television, looking again at my students, while the reporter continued in commentary.  That’s when I noticed Matt’s face;  it was ashen in color.  Matt sat in the very center of the classroom, two seats back from the front.

I walked over to his side, leaned in, and asked:

“Matt, is everything alright?”

To this day, so many years later, I have never forgotten his face and words:

“My parents are there, in the World Trade Center.”

IMMEDIATELY, I RETURNED TO THE TELEVISION & TURNED IT OFF,

BRINGING SILENCE TO THE CLASSROOM.

To my knowledge, no one heard Matt’s words but me, but my entire classroom was forever stunned by the images we had seen on the television just minutes before I turned it off, ushering in silence to our classroom.  We sat for the longest time—there—no one moving, no one speaking, some weeping, all sharing in the shock we felt.

A few minutes later, another person stopped by my classroom door, and said:

“Matt, can you come with me to the office.”

To this day, I will never forget how this young man slowly stood and shuffled his feet, moving toward the classroom door.  This was years before students carried cellular devices, so I knew he would probably face a phone call on the school’s main landline.  When he returned minutes later, the room he encountered remained in silence, as he walked back to his seat.

Slowly, I walked over to his side.

“Matt, did you receive news?”

“Yes,” he replied.  Relief was written across his face.  Then he spoke these words, bringing peace to my heart—“Dad called the school, assuring me that they were safe.  They were late leaving the hotel for work that morning, so they were not there, when the trade center was attacked.

The attack on our nation brought my husband to his decision to join the military—now twenty-two years ago.  This year, he will retire from the Seabees.

• To say I am proud of him puts such mildness in my words.
• To say I am honored to be his wife puts such depth to my feelings for his service, his sacrifice.

On this Memorial Day weekend, one where we are given the opportunity to remember, to walk through the cemeteries where our beloved military are buried, and to see the many white stones dotting the countryside, I am reminded of my Savior’s words that he spoke to the church.

• “To him who overcomes,
• to him I will give some of the hidden manna,
• and I will give him a white stone,
• and a new name written on the stone
• which no one knows but he who receives it.”

We Can Receive the Victor’s Reward

• It is God Himself who gives us a new name when we give our hearts to Him.
• It is Jesus Himself who gave His life on the cross, so that we might be saved.
• It is our Savior Jesus who made the only way for which we might become God’s child.
• It is our Father who gives to us a new name & who records our name within His Book.
• It is our race to run during our days of life we are given to live, so we ask—

Lord, Give Us Faith to Finish the Race You Have Set Before Us to Run

Without a doubt, we live in a messy world, a place where Satan dwells, a place where evilness and depravity seem to become worse with each new day.  Many people seem vulnerable and frightened, but that is not how our Lord desires.

Our Lord Jesus Christ holds out His hand, saying, “Come, take ahold of My way, My truth, & My life.  I will hold you tight.”

The psalmist David writes, reminding us of the POWER AVAILABLE WHEN GOD’S CHILD KNEELS IN PRAYER.

Please read with me; be encouraged; be reminded; be saved; be not disturbed by Satan’s lies.