Another Memorial Day has come and gone. This year was probably one of the most different that we have ever had. While our original plans were to have extended family over, that didn’t end up working out. So my husband and I were quite disappointed. We had a large meal planned and decided to make the most of it and just enjoy the day as a family.
Then my youngest son asked if his friend could come over for the BBQ. His parents didn’t have anything planned and they were just going to be spending a lazy day at home. I thought, “Sure, why not?” Then a few minutes later my daughter asked if her best friend could come over. Their family had just gotten back into town and they didn’t have anything planned. So once again I said, “Sure, why not?”
Later on my youngest son went to the park with his friend and met up with two more friends, who guess what? They had no plans for Memorial Day. Their parents were actually working. So I received a text message asking if these friends could come over. This time my response was, “Why not? Every other friend is.”
At first I was a little irked. My Memorial Day was not going the way I had planned. Now instead of having family over, we were having a bunch of kids. It didn’t feel like a relaxing Memorial Day anymore. I was kind of mad at myself for agreeing to have all these kids over.
Once they all started arriving and I saw my kids having fun, my mood began to lighten. I thought about how fortunate I am that my kids actually want their friends to come over. While sometimes it can be annoying to always have kids in our house, I thought about the fact that my kids could be trying to get away from home.
I thought about the meaning behind Memorial Day and how it’s about sacrifice, the price that many soldiers have paid for the freedom the United States has. What a huge sacrifice in light of my very small sacrifice to have an unexpected Memorial Day filled with kids.
In the end, we had a great day and I am very thankful for that. Of course, I am most especially grateful to those who have given their very lives that I am even able to have the freedom to celebrate Memorial Day…with extra kids and all.
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Photo by Heather Elaine Kitchen