My men and Memorial Day,,,

This Memorial Day has provoked some unusual and nostalgic thoughts on the servicemen in my family - my life in particular.

PBS had a wonderful Memorial Day celebration program on Sunday after we came home from spending time with Missy Aubrey and her mom and dad. They first showed a documentary on "Honored Gardens" - the cemeteries of American soldiers who died serving their country in overseas conflicts. Our overseas neighbors who live near these remote gardens find solace and comfort in taking care of our honored dead as a way of thanking the United States for bringing freedom to their countries. I found this particularly touching when realizing that our own country has seemed to become somewhat ambivilent to this holiday and, as with "other" holidays, have given a "new" reasoning to the celebration - the beginning of the summer holidays.

The next program was a concert dedicated to honoring the fallen soldiers AND widows of service personnel from all recent wars. It was held on the grass in front of the Capital Building and was very stirring.

The thoughts that swirled after viewing these two shows reminded me of the incredible Providence of God in the lives of the men in my life. I am the daughter of a Korean veteran, Captain Warren F. T., a chaplain stationed active duty US Army in the conflict prior to my birth. I am the sister of a Vietnam veteran, Sgt. Warren F. T., Jr., stationed as a member of the US Army's President's Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. I am married to Sgt. Ralph Michael M., US Army veteran of the same conflict in which my father served - Korean Conflict. The most current evidence of this overshadowing protection is that I am the mother of Sgt. 1st Class Christopher M. M., US Marine Corps, an Iraqi War veteran.

"O Lord, You have searched me and know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts afar off. You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely. You hem me in - behind and before; You have Your Hand upon me...All the days ordained for me were written in your Book before one of them came to be." Isaiah 139:1-5,16.

The humbling part of this whole senario is that God's Hand so providentially protected each of these men in my life so that I would be able to be...who I am - daughter, sister, wife, and mother. I am blessed, Abba...thank You.