“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Luke 2:19 (NIV)
I come from a patriotic family, and in honor of Memorial Day, this meditation will share thoughts about one veteran in my ancestry. My father served in the army, my uncle (my mom’s brother)was a Marine in WWII, and my oldest brother was an Air Force fighter pilot, during the Viet Nam war. Both my uncle and my brother died serving their country, but this meditation is in memory of my uncle.
As a child, my first introduction to a war hero was the picture of my grandmother’s only son, John, a Purple Heart Marine war hero, who died in World War II. He was killed by a hand grenade, in Iwo Jima, as he rescued a fellow marine.
I remember spending time in my grandmother’s small, humble home, where I still recall an entire area of her living room, dedicated to her son, John. It was like a shrine filled with his photos, war medals, letters and a newspaper article, all in honor of an uncle I never knew, who died eight years before I was born.
I remember browsing through my grandmother’s scrapbook, which was full of photos of people who were special in her life, like her deceased husband, parents and siblings, even though I never met any of them.
My grandmother kept a letter from the Marine chaplain, who knew her son in Iwo Jima, which I now have in my own scrapbook today.
He wrote to my grandmother, to say that her son was a man of faith, and a good man, who made the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus described it well, “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
A scrapbook is special to the one who puts it together, but even more meaningful when it can be shared with others. It becomes more than a collection of photographs, but a memorial of a loved one’s values and character. Although her son lived only 24 years on this earth, his memory was kept alive for many years afterward, through my grandmother’s scrapbook.
Mary had a place in her heart where she stored every cherished memory of Jesus, keeping His memory alive, long after He ascended to Heaven. She had a mental scrapbook filled with memories, conversations and miraculous images that she treasured, as scripture says that she pondered everything in her heart.
When Mary and Joseph searched for twelve year old Jesus and were surprised to find Him in the temple, He told His parents that He had to be in His Father’s house. Mary treasured those words in the moment, putting it in the scrapbook of her heart, where it remained long after He was gone.
We may have our own memories of how we once searched for and found Jesus. We also have a scrapbook in our hearts of the most meaningful moments that impacted our faith and our relationship with Him.
A scrapbook has a twofold purpose, it’s a comforting reflection for the one who keeps it, but it’s also meant to be shared with other people, throughout the years. My grandmother’s scrapbook was a memorial to her only son, and made me feel like I knew my uncle even though I never met him.
The memories we hold sacred in this life, are a treasure, and by sharing them with others, we remind ourselves that we will all live forever. Jesus promised that all who believe in Him will live, even if they die. The shared memories of our loved ones today, and our hope in the resurrection, will continue to bless and comfort our friends and loved ones, for many days to come.
Lord, we honor the memories of all loved ones and veterans, who live in the scrapbook of our hearts. As we share their memory, we hold on to the hope of eternal life. Amen
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY🇺🇸
