A grieving mother expresses her pain for the loss of her son who died in Iraq in July 2007. From usatoday.com, here are her words:

"It has been three months today that you have been laid to rest. The pain still persists and has not eased one bit ... I have cried and cried until my eyes have dried.

"But because of our loving God and the Grace he provides us, I am able to get out of bed and care for your brothers. I am able, by his Grace, to lift my head high and be PROUD of my son, Dane, for he IS a HERO in the minds and hearts of so many.

"Love, Mom"

Memorial Day in America

America has just observed another Memorial Day to commemorate its fallen servicemen. This custom began following the Civil War when families in local communities gathered to honor those who had lost their lives in that struggle.

Congressman John A. Logan, a retired general, was exceptionally instrumental in officially instituting Memorial Day on May 5, 1868 as a time for the entire nation to honor its fallen soldiers.

A Book of Remembrance

God also remembers His faithful and fallen servants. In Hebrews 11 we find a list of some of the true heroes of faith. They include some of His outstanding servants from the time of Abel to Enoch and from Noah to the time of Abraham and Sarah. Tribute to Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses is also given (verses 4-11, 20-26).

Unable to list every biblical hero, the author of Hebrews comments: "And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets ..." (verse 32).

God also memorializes all of His faithful servants with a special book of remembrance. "Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name" (Malachi 3:16).

The hope of the dead

Yes, God never forgets His faithful servants (Luke 12:4-7). He never forsakes them (1 Samuel 12:22). He knows those who are His (2 Timothy 2:19). He views them as the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8).

He also shows that the present world is not worthy of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many of His faithful servants (Hebrews 11:38). Were it not for their faithfulness we are told that no flesh would saved alive at the end of the great tribulation (Matthew 24:22).

Yet Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live ... Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment" (John 5:25-29, New American Standard Bible). 

Spiritual warfare

All Christians have battles to fight. The apostle Paul explains the purpose of that spiritual warfare.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, New Revised Standard Version). 

Dedicated Christians are told: "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but ... against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:11-12). 

Where are the trumpets, the bands, the readings, the speeches and the fanfare for those who gave their lives in the service of God? Even though at the present time there may be no special ceremonies to honor them they will never be forgotten by God.

A mother's grief turned to joy

This commentary began with a mother's sorrow for her fallen son. The Scriptures assure us that she and her son will one day be reunited; and their reunion will be joyous.