Holiday – Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess

The Memorial Day weekend is upon us. Do you have big plans? Living in Southern Indiana by Louisville there are many activities all weekend close by us. My favorite is picnicking with family and playing games.

How much do you know about Memorial Day? It is much more than the Indy 500 and unofficial start of summer or three day weekend. Even more than playing games and picnicking with beloved family. The first Memorial Day was May 30, 1868.

This was a day for people to decorate graves of Civil War soldiers and originally known as Decoration Day. Unfortunately, grievously the United States lost many men during that horrible war against itself. Approximately 620,000 died during the Civil war. That is a staggering number. 620,000!

May 30th was chosen because no Civil War battles were fought that day and flowers across the nation would be in full bloom to decorate the graves. It remained that date until 1971. Then it became a federal holiday known as Memorial Day and was changed to the last Monday of May giving people a three day weekend.

In honor of those who died, the American flag should be hung at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day. It should then be raised to the top. Since 2000, all Americans have been encouraged to stop for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. Red poppies are a symbol of remembrance for those who died in war. People, men and women, wear them to honor those who died in war. Especially on Memorial Day you will see a lot of red poppies.Scouts can be seen placing flags on the graves in the National Cemetery. What a great honor for a young scout to do this. I have a grandson that does this. His Dad is a former Marine so he is very respectful of our military.

This Memorial Day think about your life, your freedom, and how you are privileged to live. Without those that unselfishly gave their lives defending our country, our freedom, and us, what would our lives be? Very different indeed.

Memorial Day is a time to remember those that gave all for our country, for us. It is our responsible to take care of what and who was entrusted to us and honor our military and especially God. We need to keep remembering and pass those memories on to teach our children. Children need to learn about our holidays… that they are more than a day off and that our country and freedom were paid for with the blood of brave men and women. There is a price for freedom.We live in a great country with strong roots. Many people have lived and died for this land of ours. Let us always remember you brave soldiers. Those that stood and stand between us and the enemy. Pray for them, our leaders, and our country. May God continue to bless America.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.” Proverbs 14:34 NIV

Today is Father’s Day. The history of its origin is rather vague. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended that Father’s Day become a national holiday, but nothing was done. Years later in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as the official day to celebrate Father’s Day. However, it wasn’t until 1972, during the Nixon administration, that Father’s Day was officially recognized as a national holiday.

Two different women claim credit for this holiday. One in Washington state, Sonora Smart Dodd. She had the idea of honoring and celebrating her father while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon at church in 1909. Mothers seemed to be getting all the acclaim while fathers were equally deserving of a day of gratitude. Her father was a Civil War veteran that raised six children alone after his wife died in childbirth.

The other lady, Grace Golden Clayton suggested on July 5, 1908, to the minister of the local Methodist church that they hold services to celebrate fathers after a deadly mine explosion killed 361 men. She proposed Father’s should be given a day of praise like mothers.

Father’s Day is a bittersweet holiday for me. I am one lucky girl to have the amazing dad that I do. He is compassionate, intelligent, loving, faithful, generous, respected, and so much more than words could ever describe. A giant in faith he is a true son of God. Best of all, he came into our lives about a decade after my daddy was called home to be with the Lord. God, our Heavenly Father, is so good and knows what we need, when we need it. He put Dad in our lives to help heal that broken spot that was ripped open when Daddy died. Dad has been a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and grandfather. God used a bad situation for good. I am forever grateful.

Sure there are times I still miss my Daddy. All girls need their daddies. I also miss both of my grandfathers, too. My paternal grandfather, Granddaddy, and I were particularly close. I was the first born on that side, and yes, spoiled rotten. Today isn’t about tears and missing them. It is about the good memories of the time we had together. The promise of seeing them again in Heaven. It is a time to be thankful.

So, I am. Thankful for all of the men in my family. For the grandfathers, fathers, hubby, uncles, son, son-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, nephews, and cousins. You are appreciated and loved even though you may not hear the words. Happy Father’s Day especially to Dad! I love you and am grateful you are in my life. To the other patriarch in our family, Uncle Gale, ditto to you! To my husband, son, and son-in-law, thank you for taking care of me and our family.

Father’s Day should be a day to rejoice, appreciate, be glad, and love. Enjoy your day! Don’t forget to spend time with our Heavenly Father, too. Tell a Him how much you appreciate Him.