Gone But not forgotten

While this Weekend is about mostly remembering our fallen hero's and the freedoms fought for our nation from the Revolutionary war and since.   We can and do remember many loved ones that have gone on before us.  They are gone for now, but not forgotten.  They live in our hearts, our memories, our thoughts.  Their faces captured in photos, film and videos.  Their voices on tape and recordings. 

We look back at times we spent with them, laughing at a family reunion picnic.  Fishing in a favorite lake or stream, opening a gift given from the heart as young faces watch in anticipation.  Making a batch of  cookies and eating them hot out of the oven.  Walking with them as they go about the yard or farm or to their favorite park.  

We see them sitting in their favorite chair and remember them as they play a game of tug o war with another well remembered companion also long gone.   An Uncle that loaded all the kids up and took to the movie in his  convertible.   A grandmother baking bread and making hot chili in winter.  Grandpa as he goes about his morning ritural of chores.  A father as he pushes a child in a swing, a mother as she rocks her baby to sleep.   Sisters and brothers who ran and laughed and played with us, read stories to us and shared our clothes, rooms and toys.  

They are sleeping, they wait restoration and resurrection and the return of Jesus to raise them up to Salvation and glory,  We don't have to forget them.  We remember them fondly and some perhaps not so fondly but remember them we do.   They were all loved by someone at one time or another.  If not anyone else then by God himself.  

Flowers maybe nice on a grave but those sleeping do not see them, flags waving in honor are but a token of honor those fallen do not care.  The best honor we can bestow upon them is to not forget them and the contribution, great or small they gave to this world.  Some the whole world knew and admired,  Others were known only by friend, neighbor and family but it they are not dimished because they were not known by everyone.  Even those most famous often are only remembered by those few at times.   They have gone on before us, paving the way, making a better world for us and our children to live in.  For future generations, even as we too do what we can to leave our small mark, contribution to this world to be remembered for a time.   By those we love and who loved us.  

Remember your loved one by sharing stories and photos with your family that is much nicer than flowers.  Fix what would have been their favorite meal in memory of them and tell your children how Grandma, Grandpa etc loved it and why.   

Light a candle in rememberence, Plant a flower or shrub in your yard and call it by your loved ones name in thier honor, every time you see it bloom or leaf out it reminds you of them.   Write a poem an story and tell the world about them,

My loved ones are,  My aunt Margurite gone now for  47 years, she who loved to laugh and played with her children and all of us.  My Grandpa Ray gone for 40 years, who lived a long life and was a great horseman. , Clem my cousin gone for 35 years and had a big heart and was known by many in five counties wide.   Our son James who was born and died the same day also gone for 35 years, we didn't even get to hold him and we ached for his loss.  My grandma Clark gone for 14 years she who told many stories and baked lots of goodies, My Grandma Candy gone for 12 years, she loved to read, to crochet and to travel, 

All my uncles on my mom side, Jim, Larry, Frank and Jack, All who served their nation and survived World War II and the Korean War. My Uncle Gene on daddy's side and my great uncles Ben, Harold and Bill and aunts Evelyn, Irene and Faye and Almeda, June and Betty.  My daddy for 10 years come. August, who loved to wander the mountains and hills and sing story songs with his quitar, My Grandson's Cameron and Graeme who would have been five now, stillborn and hearts ached and arms left empty until God sent another child to help ease the hurt, the sorrow and the pain our grandson Liam.  A grandchild we didn't know before he was gone miscarried at 3 and half months, they just know he was a boy gone now for 3 years,  My Mama for 2 years now since April, she had a great sense of humor and a heart that reached out and took in many way-faring strangers both four footed and two legged, who sang beautifully and was talented in art and music and could bake biscuits that would melt in your mouth.. My father in law for 17 years who loved music and his ham radio and served in World War II and loved teddy bears.  

Many others, cousins, friends, neighbors, neices, nephews.   But I know I will see them again.  At their awakening and will be with them again.   For now they sleep.   I remember and they are not forgotten and tonight I will share photos with my grandkids about them and who they were and how they were part of my life and how they relate to them.    This for all our everyday hero's of our life, our loves and childhood.  We remember, we loved you and we won't forget.   Until we see you again.  

Who do you want to remember to honor to tell about?   Now is a good opportunity.