This Memorial Day reminds me of four important thoughts.

I was riding along the coastal highway near San Diego after speaking at a church there.  The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, and it was gorgeous.

Suddenly, as I topped a hill, I saw a sight that took my breath away: tens of thousands of tiny white grave markers covering many acres.

Fort Rosencrans National Cemetery changed my life.

There lay the bodies of thousands of people who paid the price for my freedom.

This Memorial Day week, think about these important heart issues for us as Americans:

1.  Many soldiers never came home. 

My Dad was a WWII veteran who won a Silver Star in North Africa.  His best friend, Sonny, went into the service on the same day as Dad.  

Sonny never came home.  He was killed in Italy.

How many sons, husbands, wives, and daughters never came home?

Whole generations change when a person wears a uniform and is in the line of fire.

Today, we say “thank you” to them and those who sent them off to fight freedom’s battles.

2.  We must all be patriots.

It’s not fair for a few to go somewhere to fight and possibly lose their lives and those at home not be patriotic.

To be patriotic is to unite at all costs against a common enemy.

To be patriotic is to think about, pray for, and communicate with those in the heat of our nation’s battles and outposts.

To be patriotic, we must do our duty on the home front and serve our communities by voting and volunteering.

To be patriotic, we must join hand to hand and neighbor to neighbor to build our great nation.

3. God calls us to pray and fight spiritual battles.

In 1 Timothy 2, Paul tells us to “pray for kings and all those who are in authority that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life….”

Yes, we need to hold our political leaders accountable.  

However, we should spend as much time praying for our government as we do criticizing our government.

They need our prayers.  They are making decisions in real time that affect the security of the world.  If we prosper and are strong, we balance out the enemies who would love to destroy us.

At least call out to God every day for the President, Congress, Supreme Court, the Governor, Legislature, and Mayor of our city.

Prayer can save our nation as well as bullets, bombs, and rockets.

 4. Let us never forget their sacrifice.

After all, that is what Memorial Day is all about.  Once a year, our eyes should close or look heavenward to contemplate the gravity of their sacrifice.

Honor the former heroes.  Let us never be guilty of jokes and belittling comments about our heroes.

As time goes by, their memory can become almost insignificant.

Give them one day.

Give them one moment in our “busy schedules.”

Give them the respect they deserve.

Look at a flag or a cemetery like Fort Rosencrans, and let your heart be stirred for our unseen, unsung heroes.