Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day,

How is everyone doing? All is well here. How was your weekend? What did everyone end up doing? John and I went to my nieces last night for a wonderful dinner and some dancing and singing. Yes, we did a little singing to some fun country songs. Dancing was random and just fun. John made his famous margaritas and those always make everyone relaxed. We were all able to sing a little, and nobody noticed if we were off key or not. It felt good to be back home in Murrieta. Something about Murrieta that makes me feel happy and at home. Maybe it’s just being with family. Everyone loves John. My friend Tara said “he’s fantastic and a definite keeper.” I agree, he’s pretty amazing. We talked about John and I one day getting our dream home in Canyon Lake on the water and getting a Pontoon boat. Everyone is on board for the parties on the lake with us. Super excited and happy to be seeing our dream getting one step closer.

Today is Memorial Day. It is a day to honor the men and women who have died serving our country while on duty in some form of the US military. Today is set aside to pay our respects to those that fought for our freedom and for the freedom we have here in the USA. I am thankful to have had so many family members serve. For as long as I could remember, I always felt grateful for their service, yet being raised in a religion that didn’t acknowledge our flag or our country for that matter, I always had to keep my sentiments to myself. According to JW. Org, frequently asked questions, “Jehovah’s Witnesses remain politically neutral for religious reasons, based on what the Bible teaches. We do not lobby, vote for political parties or candidates, run for government office, or participate in any action to change governments. We believe that the Bible gives solid reasons for following this course.”

I know growing up, I wasn’t allowed to salute the flag. I always felt so embarrassed about this. I always felt as though I was disrespecting my government and country. I think I was okay not being able to join the military, but I felt as though these people who served were protecting me and my freedom, so I wanted to be able to thank them. I wanted to be able to honor them in some way, but it wasn’t allowed. “Since we avoid political divisions, we are untied as an international brotherhood. In contrast, religions that meddle in politics divide their members.”-JW.Org. Personally, I thought this religion was dividing it’s members from society and disrespecting people and their beliefs by sitting for the National Anthem, or by not saluting the flag. This same article uses 1 Corinthians 1:10 to support their stand in avoiding anything political. “Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you may be completely united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.”-NWT. Funny, it says “that there should be no divisions among you.” Weren’t we causing divisions by not at the very least acknowledging our country, our flag and those that fought to keep us free to be able to worship openly? Just wondering.

This same article then goes onto say, “although we do not take part in politics, we respect the authority of the governments under which we live.”-JW.Org. How were we respecting the authority of the government when we failed to salute the flag or stand for the National Anthem? Isn’t it disrespectful when you are at a graduation or sporting event and you stand out like a wart on the tip of a nose by sitting for the National Anthem or for the flag salute? “We obey the law, pay taxes, and cooperate with the efforts of the government to provide for the welfare of it’s citizens. Rather than participate in any attempt to subvert the government, we follow the Bible’s counsel to pray for the ‘kings and all those who are in positions of authority,’ especially when they are making decisions that could affect freedom of worship.”-JW.Org. Why do we pray for the governments to make the right choice, yet we turn around and disrespect this same government and those that serve by not standing or saluting the flag?

I am in favor of freedom of choice. Freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but what doesn’t make sense to me is those that want this freedom, they rely on the government to keep them free. We are told to pray for the governments to make the right choices, yet when it comes to backing them up, we were told to stand down and be neutral. I don’t feel you can have it both ways. I feel it’s hypocritical to ask someone to fight for my freedom to worship the way I want, but I won’t thank you for your service. I feel what right do I have to call upon the police if a crime happens to me, yet I can’t be apart of the police force, nor could my children. I can’t stand for the National Anthem, yet the purpose of standing is to pay respects for the freedom in which the flag represents. “The National Anthem, like other national symbols of a country, represents the tradition, history and beliefs of a nation and its people.”-worldatlas.com.

Today is Memorial Day and it is the first Memorial Day that I have really thought about it’s meaning. I put my flags out and I am thankful for those that have fought for my freedom and the freedom of this country. Without our military, we wouldn’t be able to live in a free country. Below is a copy of the Arlington National Cemetery. I found the photo on stayva.org. What a beautiful place that represents so much to us here in the USA.

Seeing the amount of tombstones here really helps put into perspective the amount of men and women who have lost their lives in battle, or simply who served. Thank you to those that serve and have served for my freedom.

Well my dear family and friends, that’s about all I have for today. I hope you all are enjoying the freedom of today and I hope you are able to spend time with your family and friends, enjoying the beautiful weather. I hope you can take a moment to reflect on those you may know or not know that have served or are serving for us today. We are the land of the free because of this country, our government and those in the military. Thank you all for your service.

Don’t forget to drop me a comment, subscribe to my blog and follow me and until next time, Love Life++