Remembering
Remembrance Day is a couple days away. This day always gets me thinking about those who sacrificed their lives for our country. Those who were away from their families in order to support their loved ones back home. Those who fought hard, struggled, and saw unimaginable sights throughout their service. Even those who may not have fought in any battles, but who were close to your heart and now departed. Do you ever have those days? When you are simply remembering?
There can be no dedication to Canada’s future without a knowledge of its past – John Diefenbaker (13th Prime Minister of Canada)
I was reading a devotional the other day and one verse listed was Roman’s 15:4.
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope.
We are currently living in a cancelled culture society. Something happens – in a direction that one person may not agree with – and suddenly that said person is either black listed, that event is cancelled, or even an entire monument of history is taken down. It’s like history is being completely wiped out.
The thing is. You can’t wipe out history. We are put on this earth to learn, create, dream, co-inhabit with others, and love each other. In other words, we follow the dreams that God has put on our hearts. We accept others – their ideas, their dreams, and their thoughts. We were not created identical. We were meant to be different. That is how we learn.
By cancelling out events, thoughts, statements, people or monuments that just may not align with someone’s thoughts – it is not representing the bad in the ‘event’. It is representing the bad in the person or group trying to cancel it. It is depicting them as not being able to live with others. Not being able to accept others. Not being able to love others.
We can only go forward in the future by learning from our past. Sure, there were times and events that would be ‘faux pas’ in today’s society, but we have learned from those moments or times. Judging someone by their past and not who they are today is only a reflection of who you are as a person. A person who cannot learn. A person who points fingers. Or a person who feels unloved.
I truly believe that all of those groups, or others who ‘try’ to cancel out an opinion, an event, or a person is simply feeling unloved. When they remember, they are not remembering the love of someone close. The love of family. The love of community. Or the love of society. Their hearts have been hardened somewhere or somehow and that inward hurt is being presented outwards onto society and life – cancelling out anything that doesn’t groove with them.
So, as you head into Remembrance Day this week – wearing that poppy to signify those who fought for our country – also remember those you know who may be hurting or those who you may have lost connection with. An event may have divided you from them, but reach out. Let them know you remember. Let them know they are loved. My father-in-law often did this. He would accept anyone regardless of their beliefs or stand in life. He would open his front door and invite them in showing his love and kindness for them – emptying his pockets if they were in need or providing an ear to listen to if they were struggling. Today, I will be remembering him on what would have been his 80th birthday. I can hear him now up in Heaven celebrating with all of our loved ones who have left this world too soon. Happy birthday Garry!
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
