Christian Heartbeat- Memorial Day

A Memorial Day Tribute

By Gary Broughman

We sometimes see the word love as soft, like the embrace of a mother’s arms. But love often forces us into hard choices. Jesus made love a command, saying all the law can be summed up in one idea ... love. Keeping this commandment can be costly and on this Memorial Day weekend, we honor the sacrifices made by our brave men and women who have served and are serving for love of country.

The Price

of Love

For love of God,

For love of children,

For love of wife,

For love of husband ...

What price?

For love of justice,

For love of freedom,

For love of country ...

What price?

For love of God,

For love of Christ,

For love of truth ...

What price?

Somewhere in this wide land,

in southern city or northern town,

a soldier hears his nation’s call.

On distant shores a battle sounds

and his is not to reason why

but to show his colors, hug his family

and bravely whisper his goodbye.

For love of country ... what price?

Somewhere in this fertile land,

somewhere far or close by,

a father feels the press of circumstance,

feels it all is going wrong,

but with feet that itch to cut and flee

holds his children with this firm guarantee,

“I will be what I said I’d be.”

For love of family ... what price?

Somewhere in this fabled land,

in a classroom or public place,

a woman — or a man —

stands to speak against the grain,

dares to oppose the common thought,

and makes us look where we’d rather not.

For love of truth ... what price?

And here and there in this doubtful land,

in faithful sanctuaries just like ours,

we who follow in his name

gather in his spirit’s power,

and pledge that we will pay the price

to share the love the lamb has given us.

For love of God,

For love of Christ.

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Editor’s note: For many churches Memorial Day presents a special challenge, especially in times of war. It is imperative that the sacrifices of veterans be remembered and that those currently serving be recognized. But many feel uncomfortable with traditional “God and Country” thinking that implies we are God’s children and the enemy is not. We do well to remember the wartime words of Abraham Lincoln who said, “We cannot claim God is on our side. We can only hope we are on God’s side in the policies we pursue.” The following Memorial Day reading honors not only those who serve in the military, but all those who stand up with courage, and pay the price of their love. As a production note, this tribute can be powerfully combined with the singing of the contemporary Christian Song, “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb.” This Ray Boltz ballad recalls the price paid for their faith by Christians of times past, and creates a moving emotional conclusion to the reading.