Memorial Day

 [️MEMORIAL DAY] In honor & memory of those who gave their lives during military service to our country. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

[FIRE UP THE GRILL!] Planning a barbecue for this Memorial Day? Go with the basics of hamburgers and hot dogs or search for the latest cookout-friendly recipes for grilled starters, patriotic drinks and desserts to kick off the unofficial start of Summer! 🌞

 

Memorial Day can be a dichotomy. A day of mourning and remembrance of those who lost their lives in the service of our country is starkly different from a 3-day weekend filled with fun, parties, pools, shopping, and the frivolous. that brings on the unofficial start to Summer. Mourning vs Merriment.

To me, though, it's not difficult to combine all that make this holiday special. We should always give honor those who gave their lives to protect and defend our freedom and rights. In the past, many families spent Memorial Day bringing flowers and cleaning the graves of loved ones. It took several hours of work and quite often meant sharing a meal while there. The sense of community with family and friends paying respect to the dead, sharing memories and meals was also a means of support in grief.

Each Memorial Day be sure to remember those who sacrificed their lives, but including a picnic with family and friends to celebrate life and freedom is not meant to dishonor the memory and sacrifice of those men and women. We Americans live in the land of the free because of the brave who sacrificed their own lives. Take time to remember those who died and celebrate the gift they offered their fellow citizens with family, friends, neighbors. Their lives made a tremendous impact. #MemorialDay

Milestones

Although I already knew the significance today holds for me, it brought a rush of memories back when I saw what I had posted one year ago today. (not ALL of the new FB features annoy me). I had posted the following:
Cindy Navarro is going for a walk since I just realized it is dark again. Hopefully it is much less humid tonight...or it will be a short one.

Everyone is probably thinking, "So? You often post something mundane like that!" And then people who haven't seen me in years are really confused since I used to walk for miles just out of the sheer love of walking. I have mentioned several times about the wreck I had 17 years ago. Locally, I'm sure there are several who noticed that I often had a cane, or even a walker, at times. Unless I knew there were plenty of chairs around, I was afraid to risk not having something to lean on.

Anyway...when I returned from walking that night, it was with tears streaming down my face and the awe that for the first time since Aug. 13, 1994, I walked 1 MILE...unaided!! It was probably a world record for the slowest mile ever walked, but I DID IT!! I couldn't think of anyone who would understand the amazing victory this was for me, but had to share my joy with someone!! I had been "talking" with a fairly new FB friend earlier, so when I saw another message, I shared my news. All I will say is that God led me to the perfect encourager!! :)  

This has also been a year of taking control of depression, which has plagued me for years. Have I conquered it? No. Nor do I walk every day. There are setbacks, but the recovery time is much quicker. Sometimes there are legitimate reasons for being sad... or not walking. Sometimes...I just don't want to deal with emotional or physical health. But, I have a God who constantly reminds me of His love (and, sometimes, that is through a friend either reminding me of God's love...or a  "Are you walking?" lol) 

Today, I am reminding myself to KEEP WALKING...both physically and in my spiritual walk. After a few days of physical inactivity, that mile today was harder, but worth the effort. As I journey closer to the time when I will forever be walking with my Lord, I want to increase my endurance and victories over physical difficulties and depression. So, this begins Year 2 and my expectations are...

 
 

...You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy ~ Psalm 30:11