Memorial Day is an occasion where we visit the graves of those who died before us and take time to reflect upon their courage, valor, and sacrifice. We are thankful especially for those who died in battle to secure our freedoms in this country. Many see this day as a time to relax on the lake, have a picnic, and make the most of their holiday. However, I try to use the day to visit cemeteries and retell stories about my own ancestors – and to pass those stories down to my children.

The interesting thing is that most of these stories are not my own. I don’t remember much about my one grandfather (he died when I was young) and his wife died before I was born. I remember much more about my other grandparents, but they have been gone for over 25 years now. Much of what I know about them and my other more distant relatives are either from stories that were told to me or because I have been given some of their personal items (like Bibles and letters).

Yet, what are the most important things for us to remember about our relatives who have died (especially those who knew the Lord as their Savior)? It is not just that they were brave and patriotic and hard-working. Here are a few suggestions:

Remember Their God – So many times in the Old Testament, God introduced Himself as “the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” It is important to remind ourselves that the God which our forefathers followed is still around today. God is not just some figment of religion from the past. He is not some empty fictional promise that our faithful ancestors blindly relied upon. We must remember that God was real to them, was faithful to them, and will continue to be faithful to us as we rely upon His wisdom and power.

Remember Their Standards – Proverbs 22:8 warns us: “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.” In its most literal sense, this was talking about boundary markers for the land. However, this is also wisdom for life found in the Proverbs and I believe it, therefore, refers in a broader sense to the boundaries that your ancestors set in their lives and with their habits. Were there places your grandparents would not go? Were there morals, values, and standards that they possessed? These are to be a model for us. If each generation pushes the limits of morality just a little bit, it won’t be long until we are open for anything (as we continue to see in our culture!). There should be moral and ethical boundary markers in your life that you have set up and determined not to move – and you can look to your ancestors for some help in where those boundaries should be placed.

Remember Their Faith – Believing their God and putting on their morals will not do anything for you if you neglect their faith. Now, your ancestor’s faith can’t save you. Being a Christian is not something you inherit in your genes – you must have faith for yourself. It must be a personal faith in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for you, as payment for your sins. However, once you have claimed faith in Christ, the Bible says that your ancestors that knew the Lord are part of a great cloud of witnesses that continue to point you to Jesus Christ. Because of that, we are to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

So, this Memorial Day take time to appreciate the valor, dedication, and sacrifice that caused many to give their lives for our freedom. Remember their accomplishments and what kind of life you have inherited from their bravery and hard work. However, remember those that knew the Lord as their Savior. Remember their God is still at work today. Remember that standards and morals built on God’s Word are absolute and should be unchanging. Remember to look to their faith – and find that faith for yourself. That is something worth remembering!