With it being Memorial Day Weekend, maybe you have plans to do something with family.  Beaches are open…malls are open…even some of our attractions in central Florida are starting to slowly let people back in.  

Many will stay in, and it will feel different this year.  Regardless, I don’t ever want to forget why we observe Memorial Day…to honor and remember those who have given up their lives for our country, for our freedom.

I grew up in a military family.  I was practically raised in the Naval Training Center in Orlando. Actually, I thought everyone was!

That’s where I first went to child care, it’s where I had my first crush,  my first concert, my earliest memories of life! My daddy served in the Navy in some fashion most of his life.  The country bumpkin from Kansas traveled the world as he served the United States!

While my daddy was in the war he lost friends in battle.  He worked with people who became prisoners of war.  He saw things.  He didn’t talk about that part much.  It was very common for that generation. 

I have memories of being a young girl memorial weekend and walking out to the front of the house with daddy.  He would tell me, “this is important kid”, as he put our flag up!  Sometimes with tears in his eyes.  I never asked, but I imagine he was thinking about those buddies he never got to say goodbye to.

Those memories of daddy are all I have left of him, and I treasure each one. He passed on in 2000.   A few Memorial Days ago, we made a new memory as a family.  Daddy’s name was added to Oviedo Veterans Tribute wall.  We showed up with red, white, and blue on and my heart leapt getting to honor my daddy. It’s now one of my favorite places to go.  

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Growing up he was my closest friend, and yet there was so much he never said.   So much I didn’t know.  Like many military men and woman of that time…you soldier on.

You stay strong. You keep going.

Everyone has a story, a past, moments that have shaped them, hurt and pain they may still be carrying.  I know I do.  Chances are you do too! I’ve actually gotten pretty good soldiering on and walking around with a smile.

How about you?  How can we get to a more authentic place of knowing one another? To allow the hurtful moments of our life  be what catapults us into an even deeper understanding and learning of one another. It takes courage and willingness to open up, to listen to others.  When we do, I’ve watched God, in His goodness, do something even more powerful.

God is constantly healing our broken. Even the broken that we didn’t know was still hurting.  Sometimes it takes inviting others into it. All the time, it takes giving those pieces back to Him. 

This Memorial Day, I’m going to walk out to the front of the house with my little girls and put that flag up…and tell them, this is important kids.  I know that’s what daddy would want me to do.   I’m also going to share with them a piece of my heart that is still broken and then wait for what God will do. 

I’m praying for your heart today and mine.  I‘m praying that we would have the courage to take steps of allowing others to know us.  May we allow the deep wounds that are uncovered to be bandaged by our great Savior.  May we see others the way God sees them.

Let the healing begin. 

I love you!  I would love to hear from you and what might be on your heart.