Memorial Day – A Personal Honoring
Written by Michael Spencer, Financial Advisor at Blue Trust
Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor the service men and women who sacrificed themselves for others in defense of our great nation. This Memorial Day, I would like to honor a few of the fallen men and women I served with in the Marines over the course of two deployments.
My time with them was brief, but their impact on me will last a lifetime. Their impact was so powerful because they loved in the way Jesus commanded in John 15:12-13 NIV. “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” We all came from different walks of life and had only known each other for a brief time. We did not always like each other, yet each of us were willing to die for one another.
In Jesus’ commandment, He starts by saying, “Love each other as I have loved you.” Notice He does not use the word “like.” To “like” someone is situational and conditional. To love someone is unconditional and a full acceptance of them whether you like something about them or not. You can have friends you like and friends that you love. Jesus only has friends that He loves because He loves everyone.
John Mattek Jr., we barely knew each other, but I can still see the way you could light up a room and how much love the Marines had for you. Thank you for being my friend and loving me.
Holly Charette, you were a beacon of light for me in a hard time. Your presence helped to form a bridge of love between me and another. I am so grateful to you for that. Thank you for being my friend and loving me.
Ronald Payne Jr., our relationship was choppy, but I always respected you and was inspired by your love of being a Marine. I think about you often and wish we had more time together. Thank you for being my friend and loving me.
On this Memorial Day, I hope you take the time to thank a loved one of the fallen for their love for you.
If you do not know of someone to thank, take some flowers to a fallen serviceman or servicewomen’s grave to thank them. After you do, spend some time with your loved ones because that is what John Mattek Jr., Holly Charette, and Ronald Payne Jr. fought and died to protect.