Occasionally a small, innovative act can grip the imagination and become something far greater than anything originally planned. Memorial Day is an example of that.
After the Civil War, women in a Sunday School Class in a southern town adopted a spring project. They decided to decorate the graves of their sons, husbands and sweethearts who had died in battle and who were buried in the local cemetery.!
Upon arriving at the cemetery, they expanded their plans and decorated the graves of soldiers from the north, as well.
It was a step toward reconciliation.
When the project was reported in newspapers, the Class began getting letters from people in the north, thanking them for decorating the graves of their loved ones.
Soon the practice spread. The name has changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day, but it is still an important time when we stop to honor all who have died in war.
When the women looked into the darkness, into the pain, of their souls they overcame reasons which might have made them bitter. Instead they found forgiveness which made them strong.
Have all your experiences been in vain?
"Where there is hatred, let us sow love, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light."
And make us instruments of peace!
Richard
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