What Will We do with this gift of life?

​I reflected on Memorial Day on my walk this morning. A thought kept coming to me. The thought that simply remembering someone who gave their life for me isn't nearly enough. It seems like the lowest form of gratitude on the gratitude scale.

All gratitude has worth. I believe that. I also believe that some forms of gratitude can be more meaningful than other forms.

I thought, it's helpful to remember that the fallen didn't give their life for me, they gave life to me.

My guess is, clearly I have no way of knowing for sure, but I suspect that if I'd talk to one who has given their life in service to this country, they would call it a gift to me far sooner than they'd call it a personal sacrifice.

And here's the thing about receiving a gift, once you have received it, you have to decide what you're going to do with it. When one has gifted you life, you have to decide what you're going to do with that life.

Walking this morning, I thought the most meaningful form of gratitude on that gratitude scale would be to press forward with the intent of the gift. To press on with giving life to others.

Maybe when we press on with a life that's been given to us, the life given lives on in some beautiful way.

Remembering a life given is simply that - remembering.

Pressing on with that life, carrying the loving intent of the life given into new life for someone longing for it, that's remembering and honoring.

And building.

Building life upon life.

Today is a beautiful day to remember.

And decide. What shall I do with this gift that has been given to me, this gift of life?

I think the best answer is to give that life to another, and in doing so be grateful that not all of us have to give our lives to give life.

Today I am so grateful.

Today I press on with this gift of life.