As we sat with our church family at our annual trip to the Labor Day Fireworks in Anderson last night, the cooler night air that graced our faces reminded me that the waning days of summer will soon yield to the full onset of Autumn. As the charcoal sky was emblazened with hues of red and green and gold, I was reminded of the many years our church family has enjoyed this tradition together. Labor Day weekend is often referred to as “Summer’s last hurrah,” though Fall doesn’t officially arrive until the end of the month. While Memorial Day in May often finds me looking toward Summer with excited anticipation, Labor Day finds me reflecting on how the season was spent.
I will remember the Summer of ‘09 fondly. My family and I had a blast attending two family reunions and my 20th high school reunion this season. We spent the equivalent of 3 entire days in the car together, nearly 72 hours of driving, and had a blast doing so! We traveled to 15 states in the last two months and created memories that will last a lifetime. Snapshot moments of standing beneath the grandeur of Mt. Rushmore and sitting around numerous campfires and catching fireflies and visiting with loved ones line the mantle of my mind. The smiles, laughter, and looks of pure, unbridled joy in my children’s faces as we crested that first hill on several roller coasters will linger for years to come. Swimming in the lake, swimming in the pool, the symphony of crickets serenading us on late night strolls. Memories. Remembering.
Yesterday I participated in a collective act of remembrance, another highlight of the Summer of ‘o9, as our church family celebrated communion. Luke 22:19 calls us to remember, to memorialize the sacrifice of our Savior, and in unique fashion, that is exactly what we did. As we ate the bread and drank the juice, we reminded ourselves once again of the persecution and agony that Jesus endured for us. We recalled the body and blood of our Savior that was freely given in our place to pay the price for our sins on a splintered and cruel cross, a sacrifice I’m certain we will never fully comprehend. Each time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we are to do so in remembrance and gratitude.
As the unofficial end of summer plays out today, I’m remembering all the sunny days and moonlit nights June, July, and August represented this year, and all the blessings I enjoy because of the sacrifice of love my Savior made for me…for all of us!
