Happy Memorial Day (in the U.S.). In the spirit of the holiday, today’s word-of-the-week is …
MEMORY
What will you remember today?
During the past year my dad and best friend passed away, and my memories of them prompt a mixture of sadness and smiles. Sometimes I feel like I just want to forget, but I’m mostly glad I don’t.
I’m learning that grief isn’t all about pain and sorrow. Within the grief I find a lot of wisdom and discernment about how to live a little more intentionally and gratefully. The pain fades as the wisdom grows, so the memories assume a sort of patina that adds to the whole tapestry of my experience.
While many of us share this holiday with friends and family, I know the day will bring back difficult remembrances for some. My hope is that everyone will recall some of the happier times that we can hold in our hearts.
Personally, I’ll roll along in a 5K race/run/walk (here’s a photo and story) to remember my friend Wayne. It’s an annual event in which he participated for fifteen years. Last year he watched and cheered other runners because he was too sick to run. This year we’ll remember the joy he found in running and share other memories—and probably some tears as well.
Dad served in Europe during WWII, so I remember and thank him especially today. Though he never really talked much about his experiences, I’m grateful for the sacrifices made by him and so many others. We’ll put the flag out in the morning and say a silent thank-you to Dan and all those who gave so much so we can enjoy a day of relaxing and remembering.
Even when the remembering is hard, it’s important. I hope I don’t forget.
What do you especially want to remember today?