Memorial Day: it’s the unofficial start of summer with grills firing up, kids running around outside, gardens finally taking off, and yet underneath all of that is something much deeper. A quiet reminder that the freedoms we enjoy every single day were paid for by men and women who never made it home.
This weekend, I watched a clip of a soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The rain was coming down hard. The wind was fierce. Most people would have been running for cover, but there he stood, steady, disciplined, unwavering.
And honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
There was something incredibly powerful about watching someone continue to stand watch through the storm. It reminded me that honor doesn’t disappear when conditions get difficult. Respect doesn’t pause because it’s inconvenient, and sacrifice deserves to be remembered whether the skies are sunny or pouring rain.
As I watched, I thought about the countless families who have carried the weight of loss so the rest of us could gather freely around dinner tables, worship openly, raise our children in peace, and enjoy the ordinary blessings we so often take for granted.
Memorial Day is about gratitude and recognizing that freedom has always come at a cost.
One verse kept coming to mind all weekend: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13
What a powerful reminder of both Christ’s sacrifice for us and the incredible bravery shown by those who willingly served others before themselves.
This weekend, while we enjoy time with family, good food, and the blessing of another day, I hope we also pause to remember the heroes behind the freedom we often take for granted.
Maybe what struck me most while watching that soldier in the storm: devotion like that still exists. Honor still matters. Sacrifice is still remembered.
Today, I’m thankful for the freedoms we enjoy, grateful for the men and women who defended them, and humbled by the God who reminds us what true sacrificial love looks like.
Happy Memorial Day.
From our homestead to yours,
Eliza