Come Listen...to the Sounds!

 

I am musing about....

Sounds of Memorial Days, days of Memorial...

Past and present.

So, this evening, my husband and I decided, due to the approaching of Memorial Day tomorrow, to take a walk down "Memory Lane". Literally.  Those from my home town know what I am talking about. It is a limestone path that was created about a decade ago, that takes one from our little town on about a quarter of a mile trek to our lovely, local cemetery.

As we strolled along, I wondered about possibly writing a blog post and silently prayed that the Lord would inspire me.

As we approached the scenic, hillside area, the loveliness of the evening caught my attention. The sun was beginning to set, and the flower adorned white graves beckoned us to come, ponder, notice and reflect.

But one of the first things I noticed was the sound. The sound of many flags whipping in the wind! If you recall, today was quite blustery . We had the wind to our back and it practically lifted us along the path on our way there. The gusty night with it's effect on the many beautiful flags created an almost magical little world where we could let our minds be blown back, back to the sounds of Memorial Days past.

So, come "listen with me"....

Listen to the 

-sound of mothers as they hugged their strapping young sons good-bye, holding back tears, that turned into weeping as they watched the bus or the train disappear from their sight,

-the sound of fathers, clasping their able bodied sons to their chest, whispering hoarse words of emotional encouragement and advise,

-the sound of the wheels of the bus, turning, turning...taking the young men further and further from the home and those they love,

-the sound of the demanding voice of the drill sergeant as boots tromp the pavement in synchronized cadence,

-the sound of laughter in the barracks,

-the sound of prayers, fervently prayed,

-the sound of the foghorn signaling the departure as the ship leaves the harbor,

-the sound of guns echoing, reverberating and echoing again,

-the sound of cries, and moans, of screams, and blasts,

-the sound of a kiss, planted on an envelope enclosing the letter written with love and tears,

-the sound of the ripping of paper as the envelope reaches the hands of the young man,

-the sound of prayers, fervently prayed, by mothers, fathers, sweethearts, friends, sisters, brothers, 

-the sound of prayers, fervently prayed in barracks, in foxholes, in the middle of the night, in the field hospitals, in the dark, in the light...the light of the blasts,

-the sound of prayers, in churches, Sunday after Sunday,

-the sound of speeches being given, to inspire and lead,

-the sound of telegrams bearing news from afar,

-the sound of car doors shutting as military personnel approach a farmhouse porch with news they don't want to share,

-the sound of rejoicing, of parades, of music and shouts as victory is declared,

And this brings us to...

The Sounds of Today

-people laughing, enjoying life in a free and beautiful country,

-children playing in back yards with their friends, many without a care in the world, free to live and grow,

-the sound of sermons being given, unhindered, in churches,

-the sound of laptops as reporters and citizens click away, unhindered to share what they see and think and feel,

-the sound of concern, as we see freedoms being challenged, taken for granted, possibly squandered or even voted away,

-the sound of prayers fervently prayed,

-the sound of families, hope, life, fun, celebrating, working, living, doing, traveling, creating, laughing, crying, singing, sharing...

-the sounds of FREEDOM!

Thank you Jesus!

Thank you to all those who served, for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, for those who answered the call...

in the fields of the original colonies, in the plantations of the south, in the strategic cities of the Civil war, on the shores of the World Wars, on the Korean battle fields, in the rice patties of Vietnam, over the deserts of the military storm, on the Iraqi and Iranian battle grounds....

Because of those who did their part...

We now know freedom!

May we share sounds of thankfulness and commemoration, 

May we share words of domestic inspiration and international encouragement,

May we share sounds of prayer, fervent prayer...

Because we are blessed to know, every day...

The Sounds of Freedom!