Memorials

Several years ago, we toured Washington DC and discovered the difference between a memorial and a monument. Structures such as the Washington Monument stand as beautiful reminders of American history and are named for famous people or events.

But memorials, such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial, actually house the statue of the person for whom the memorial is named. I stood in front of the granite likeness of Abraham Lincoln and marveled at the inscribed words of the Gettysburg Address that surrounded him. As I remembered all that Lincoln did to help our nation survive the Civil War, I prayed a prayer of agreement with him, that “this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

On this Memorial Day, we honor the heroes of our nation – men and women who have left homes and families to fulfill their duty. Some of them returned to this land they fought for. Some are buried in foreign countries, remembered by their loved ones and a grateful nation.

I’m also grateful for the missionaries who leave home and family so that they can present the spiritual freedom we have in Christ to a hungry world. They live with modest incomes, rent tiny apartments and depend on the goodness of others to support them. These people are not listed on granite walls, but they are inscribed in the heart of God and someday will receive special rewards.

Missionaries are more than just monuments, human structures that designate a piece of history. They are memorials to the truth as they carry within them the image and power of Jesus. Today I honor these heroes and heroines of faith. They know what real freedom is all about.