I love, love, love this sign outside a local nursery! I had to stop by and get a photo—and flowers too. The sentiment on the sign expresses exactly what I have been thinking about on this Memorial Day weekend.

And I have a confession to make. (Keep reading.)

The United States observes Memorial Day each fourth Sunday in May to honor the men and women who died while serving in the US military.

Decoration Day

This annual holiday began as Decoration Day on May 30, 1868. On that day, 5000 people with flowers and other decorations adorned the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the newly formed Arlington National Cemetery.

After the US entered World War I, the day evolved as a day of remembrance of all Americans who gave their lives in any war. Since 1971, Memorial Day has been a federal holiday, celebrated on the fourth Monday of May each year with parades, speeches, ceremonies, and—something I discovered only recently—with a moment of silence at 3 PM in each time zone.

Some wear a red poppy in their lapel as a symbol of remembrance, a custom with its beginnings in the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written during World War I.

The Old Guard

More than 200,000 fallen veterans are buried at Arlington National Cemetery now. On the Thursday before each Memorial Day, the soldiers of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, better known as The Old Guard, place a flag at the grave site of every one.

The regiment also provides the 24/7 guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, participates in every funeral at Arlington, sometimes as many as twenty a day. And since the earliest days of the war in Iraq, The Old Guard performs the dignified transfer of remains at Dover Air Force base when fallen soldiers return home.

The Start of Summer

Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of the summer season. Businesses close. Pools open. Friends and families gather around the grill. For many it’s a day to catch up on work out in the yard.

Confession time: for most of my life, a summer holiday is what Memorial Day was for me.

But today my father turns 94. He fought in World War II in the Pacific before he even turned 18. In recent years I’ve become so much more thankful for all those who put their lives on the line for freedom and for the ideals of America.

We need to remember the price that’s been paid on our behalf and what it was meant to purchase. We need to teach our children and our grandchildren.

So I pray you’ll take time out from enjoying today’s festivities to celebrate, honor, and remember, just like the sign says. And I hope you will share with the children in your life the stories of those you know who served, and especially those who served and died.

Happy Memorial Day!

Our children need to know their faith history too. Here’s an excerpt on that subject from my upcoming devotional book.

Generation to Generation

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. —Psalm 78:4

“Remember the time that . . .”

“When you were little . . .”

“When Mommy was your age . . .”

Children love hearing stories, especially family stories and stories that include them. Even adult children enjoy reminiscing about family adventures when they were growing up. But there’s no better story to tell children of any age than the story of God’s relationship with His people and His plan for the whole world.

Psalm 78 recounts the history of God’s early dealings with Israel. He brought the people out of Egypt and cared for them in the wilderness with many miracles, but they rebelled. Later, in the Promised Land, they continued their disobedience throughout the time of the judges, until the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant and many Israelite lives were lost. Yet God had not abandoned His people. He set a good and upright king, David, to rule and shepherd them.

The generation that hadn’t experienced these things needed to hear these truths. They needed to know God’s law and learn from their ancestors not to be disobedient. Hearing about God’s power, wonders, and care should lead each generation to give their hearts to God.

Our children and grandchildren need to hear this story too—and the continuation of the story with the Good News of Jesus. Do the children in your life know the story and their place in it?

Father God, my children and grandchildren need you. Help me find ways to tell them your story today. Amen.

Encountering God’s Heart for You: 365 Devotions from Genesis to Revelation releases September 3 and is available for preorder now.