Month: May 2026

Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

In the early years of our marriage, Randy and I pretty much lived a pretty frugal life while he finished Emory and I taught school. Vacations were pretty much non existent, but the summer that he graduated, we (he) decided to take a road trip in our little Datsun pick up truck up to some northern states of America.

This part of the country (as I later learned) was chosen because of the battles which had been fought during the Civil War. Randy was a history/political science major until his plans changed, and he still has a passion for any kind of history.

As we stood that day on the fields of Gettysburg, and I listened as he outlined that battle for me in detail, I could not fathom all the soldiers who laid down their lives for their comrades.

Many years later, as we stood on the shores of Normandy looking in awe at the now serene stretches of beaches, it was unfathomable that this was the setting of one of the biggest battles in World War II. The total loss of life was estimated to be over 200,000.

Memorial Day started during the Civil War when women began decorating the graves of soldiers who had died in that war as a way of honoring their dead. Today we celebrate Memorial Day as a holiday set aside to honor all American personnel who have died in every war in this country’s history.

When Dwight D. Eisenhower was President of the United States, he made it a habit to tour the great battlefields which are part of our history. Fields such as the battle of Gettysburg, the Battlefield of Valley Forge, and hundreds of others like these have become hallowed soil where thousands of Americans have died either to preserve freedom, prevent aggression, or keep in tact the union of American states.

During a tour of the Battlefield of Valley Forge where the President was being shown from one historic spot to another, he made this statement at the conclusion of the tour: “This is where they got it for us!”

What did he mean? He meant that those men and women and thousands of others in all the wars that America has fought, purchased by their blood, the freedoms that we enjoy today.

These battlefields of the world today are hallowed and holy to every American, and we should pause to give them our highest honors humbly realizing the sacred trust that these, our war dead have handed to us.

How do we honor today the freedom that has been bought by the blood of these courageous men and women? First, live a life that an American ought to live, one that is based on Christian principles. Remember that our forefathers founded this country on those principles.

Next, be aware of the price of freedom. When we get too many generations away from those who fought and died for our freedom, we tend to forget and take our freedoms for granted. We think every country lives this way, but life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are precious gifts.

Finally, remember that we have an obligation to teach our children what it cost others for the freedom they enjoy. Don’t allow the history of this great country to be forgotten.

Billy Graham tells a story of a young Korean boy whose spine had been torn away by a shell blast. He was unable to change his position; and if he lived, he would spend the rest of his life lying on his stomach. The medics patched him up, and as Mr. Graham held his hand the young man said, “It was worth it all if it will keep America free.”

Remember the courage and bravery of our soldiers and spend some time today thanking God for their courage, bravery, and service. These people are part of an elite group that must never be forgotten. Remember, they “got our freedom for us.”

The battlefields of the world today are, or should be, hallowed and holy to every American, and we pause on this Memorial Day to give them our highest honors, humbly realizing the sacred trust that these, our war dead, have handed to us. Billy Graham

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don’t get tired. They walk and don’t lag behind. Isaiah 40:31

I am not sure where the time has gone, but it is sobering when the kids that Randy had a hand in baptizing, confirming and marrying years ago now have children graduating from high school, college, and celebrating other milestones in their lives. These families have soared on eagles’ wings in so many ways, and we are so happy to congratulate the graduates and their families this year!

The verse above is one of the most famous in the Bible because it offers a message of endurance and hope. It promises that those who trust in God will have their energy renewed enabling them to overcome challenges without becoming weary.

In Exodus, God asks the people of Israel to remember the days in the wilderness where there was nothing to drink. He opened up a spring of fresh water and stepped in to save them. He swooped down and bore them on eagles’ wings, in other words, He delivered them.

These graduates have had family, teachers, friends, and in most cases, a loving church that has born them on eagle’s wings during these years. They have been protected, guided, and loved.

That sounds wonderful, but what does “I bore you on eagles’ wings” mean anyway? Take the Mama eagle for example. She will make a nest eight feet by eight feet and fill it up with sticks, leaves, and animal fur in order to make a cozy nest for her chicks.

There will come a time, however, when the chicks will begin to get a little less comfortable. At that point, the Mother eagle will take them to a great height and drop them. The eaglet will begin to flutter. He’s never done this before, and he doesn’t know what to do! He continues to flap his wings, but he’s headed down fast!

As the little eagle plummets to earth, Mama eagle watches, and what does she do? She swoops down and catches the little eaglet right before he hits the ground. She takes the eaglet back up to the original altitude, and she drops him again. Once more, she watches as he falls and just before he hits the ground, she swoops down to save him. She bears him up on eagles’ wings!

That’s exactly what God does for us. The new chapter awaiting each graduate is one that offers new beginnings. One chapter is closing but that ending offers a springboard into a new and purposeful journey. In this new chapter, I believe, He would have us stay rooted in our faith and focus on our personal gifts in order to serve others while glorifying God.

God wants a long life filled with joy and happiness for each person and specifically each graduate. Just like the Mama eagle, God understands that each one of us will fall in life, and He will be there to catch us when we do. No matter what it takes, God will bear us up on eagles’ wings, and He will teach us to fly.

The best commencement address I’ve ever heard was delivered this past week at the University of North Carolina by Eric Church. Armed with only a guitar, he used the six strings of the instrument to deliver his 13 minute address with a faith and confidence that humbled his audience.

He spoke first of the need for a solid foundation as the graduates depart for careers. The foundation is our faith, and he encouraged the graduates to never let the world undo it! He emphasized the importance of family, and the need to remember them even when the busyness of the world and/or a career gets in the way. Remember your people!

Eric talked about the hard seasons that will surely come, and the people in this life that will stand by us no matter the difficulties. He encouraged the graduates to be a part of a community in order to have a place to belong and never forget to give of yourself.

Finally, he implored them to be original. Don’t follow the ways of the world. If the chord sounds wrong, don’t play it. Rather, write your own song. God will bear you up on eagles’ wings as you find your way.

One of my favorite hymns was written by Father Michael Joncas, a Catholic priest and composer. The hymn was written in 1976 and is based on Psalm 91. Its famous chorus promises that God will raise you up on eagles’ wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of His hand. This is my prayer for all the special graduates in our lives.

God bless you all! We are thankful for you and excited for all the things ahead!

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out; His merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They are created new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness! Lamentations 3:22-23

A few years ago, Randy and I made a trip through Yellowstone National Park on our trek out west, and one attraction was at the top of our list – Old Faithful.

There are more than 300 geysers in Yellowstone National Park which accounts for approximately half the known geysers in the world. One of these geysers, however, stands above the others – not because it’s the largest and not because it’s waters reach the greatest heights, but it is by far the most popular.

Its popularity is due to one thing – it’s dependability or faithfulness. People stand in long lines under the hot sun to see it because, according to a precise schedule, it shoots a stream of boiling water more than 120 feet into the air. You can almost set your watch by it. According to an old prospector who traveled the region with Native Americans in the 1800’s, the geyser was given that name because it is regular in its eruptions. That’s why it’s called Old Faithful. People are attracted to faithfulness.

Faithfulness is defined as the quality of being steadfast, loyal, and consistently dependable, in relationships, duties, or obligations. It implies an unwavering adherence to promises, vows, or truth.

Faithfulness requires making 100 percent of your effort 100 percent of the time. The Bible is full of those who showed unwavering faithfulness to God and to His promises. Ruth showed unwavering faithfulness to her mother in law and followed her to a new land. Noah’s faithfulness was shown during the building of the ark. Daniel stayed faithful even in the Lion’s Den and refused to stop praying.

We see faithfulness put to the test in this world of ours today. Right now, we are in the midst of a mid term election, and citizens are desperate for politicians who will carry out all of their campaign promises. Anything less than that will never be good enough because it reflects their failure to be totally faithful and completely dependable.

Faithfulness requires several things of us. First, we must be loyal and committed to God. We have to keep His covenants, and act in line with His word no matter how difficult it may seem at the time.

Next, we must be faithful in the small things in life. Faithfulness in the little things is how dependability begins, grows, and matures. Rev. James Merritt tells this story: “The other day, I asked my beautiful wife if she married me for my looks?” She replied, “No, I married you for your brains – it’s the small things that matter.” Longfellow once wrote, “Most people would succeed in small things if they weren’t troubled with great ambition.”

Finally, we must show perseverance in turning menial jobs into vitally important ones. Even though we weren’t all born with the same talents, each of us are gifted in some way. Every one of us are born with an equal responsibility to utilize his or her abilities at full capacity.

Years ago when the U.S. Marine Corp was first formed, officials gave considerable time to contemplating a fitting motto. They finally chose the Latin phrase semper fidelis, a phrase now engraved on the mind of every Marine. The phrase means Always Faithful. Just like the Marines, we must always be faithful to God regardless of the cost.

Just like Old Faithful, God wants to be able to count on each of us to be dependable and faithful. He deserves only our best!

Great Is Thy Faithfulness was written in 1923 by Thomas O. Chisholm, a former Methodist minister. Despite poor health and financial difficulties, he wrote the hymn as a personal testimony to God’s daily steady faithfulness.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness, Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

I’ll pour robust well being into her like a river, the glory of nations like a river in a flood. As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. Issaiah 66:13

The coming week will be filled with special thoughts and deeds for our Mothers. There are many things we can say about Mothers. We can talk about their love, their gentle spirit, their endurance, and their kindness, but there is one thing that I hold dear about these special people, and that is their “being there”heart.

They are there when we are born, when we cut our first tooth, take our first step, start school, graduate, start a job, and the being there characteristic just goes on and on.

There are many examples of the being there quality of Mothers. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the ultimate example of being there. She was there when He was an infant, there when He performed His first miracle, there when He faced his trials, and she was there when He died upon the cross.

Lately, I have been humbled by the being there quality of another much less famous mother by the name of Elsa Mendoza. Elsa is the mother of Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback of the Indianna Hoosiers who won the Heisman Trophy and led his team to a National Championship.

A few days ago, Fernando was the number one draft pick of the NFL picked to go to the Las Vegas Raiders as the first overall pick. Normally, the players and their families gather together in the arena of the chosen city to await the results of the draft, but because it has become increasing difficult for his Mom to make trips, the family gathered at home with her. She is confined to a wheelchair, and the disease contines to progress. In other to allow her to be there for this moment, the family opted to stay together at home to await the results.

Elsa was diagnosed with multiple schlerosis in 2008, but she and her husband did not tell their three boys until 2019 when a Covid diagnosis exacerbated the MS. Elsa balanced work, raising her boys, and setting an example of “being there” for them even while living with MS.

Being a mother is not an easy job, but if we view our role as an assignment from God, and we view it as having eternal consequences, it becomes an honor. Mary’s assignment was serving as the earthly mother of the Son of God and to be there for Him.

Our roles might never be equal to that, but we all need to possess qualities to be there for our children and others, First, being there for our children involves a committment to be the best we can be. Set a great example, and never settle for less.

Next, being there includes loyalty. Being there as a mother might involve putting your children ahead of other minor things, and always accepting the assignment as a priority. It is worth the sacrifice.

Finally, being there includes dependability. They, as well as others, should know that we can be counted upon to live up to the trust and expectations placed upon us. It’s an assignment that has to be taken seriously.

During the second World War millions of Jewish people were killed during the holocaust. Solomon Rosenberg, his wife, two sons, and his parents were arrested and placed in a concentration camp. The rules of the work camp were simple, as along as you could work, you were permitted to live. When you become too weak to work, you are exterminated.

Rosenberg watched his parents marched off to their death, and he knew the next one would be his younger son, David, because he had always been frail. Every evening Rosenberg would return to the barracks after hours of labor and frantically search for his wife and sons. When he found them, they would huddle together and thank God for another day of life.

One day upon his return, he found his oldest son crying. He told his father, “Today, David could not do his work, so they came for him. He was afraid and cried.” Rosenberg was frantic, and said, “Where is he? “Momma took his hand he told his father and said, “There’s nothing to be afraid of, David. I will go with you.”

When God gives us an assignment, He will enable us to do things we never thought possible. Faith enables us to get above circumstances and look to Christ who is over all.

This is the being there part of Motherhood. God says, I will be there with you.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms in my life!