MEMORIAL DAY PRAYER:
by Jack Watts
Heavenly Father,
As an indebted nation, we come before You
On this Memorial Day weekend, to honor those
Who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to remain free.
We want to express our gratitude in a reverent way
That doesn’t seem trite or without proper deference.
Despite our desire, there are no words that are adequate—
No expression of appreciation that equals what
These mighty men of valor have done for us,
Since our nation’s inception in the eighteenth century,
But we understand it is our duty and our privilege to try.
Therefore, with profound respect and a full heart,
Along with misty eyes, we bow our heads in reverence
And thank You for raising up so many warriors over the years—
From the time of the Revolution to our destructive Civil War,
From the two World Wars to the Middle Eastern conflicts.
Let our warrior’s sacrifice be a perpetual reminder,
Etched indelibly in our hearts, that the price of freedom
Will always remain high in our dark, depraved, and fallen world.
From the beginning, You put it into the hearts of our forefathers
For America to be a “City on a Hill” for the entire world to emulate.
So, let us pause on this special weekend when summer begins
To remember those who died, that we, the living, might continue
To answer the perpetual call to fight for freedom and righteousness
For the American people. In Your graciousness, Father,
You have allowed our generation to remain free and prosperous,
And we thank You for each of our numerous blessings.
We owe every bit of the abundance we enjoy to You and to those
Who gave their lives that we might continue to champion
Our forefather’s vision for what America’s future would be.
Thank You for Your continued blessings upon our great nation.
As we reflect upon the sacrifice of others, let us never forget
Everything that has been required to make the United States
The greatest nation in the history of the world,
Amen