Leanne and I have our son and his family living with us as they renovate a recently purchased house. So, we are living with and around a five-year-old, a two-year-old and an 11-week-old. It’s wonderful!! But we are regularly reminded of what it was like when we were a young family. The five-year-old gets distracted all the time.

 “Where’s your water bottle?”

 “I forget!”

 “Where’s your school hat?”

 “I forget!”

Small children seem to forget all the time.

On this one day of the year, we hear the words, “Lest we forget.” Forget what? Forget that 108 million people were killed in wars during the 20th century. Forget the peace we enjoy in Australia came at a tremendous cost, of lives sacrificed, of families shattered, of memories scarred. Who could imagine that, in the space of just 32 years, the planet could be torn apart twice in worldwide conflict? And so, each year we pause and remember these incredible sacrifices.

Those of us who love the LORD Jesus Christ are also familiar with Jesus’ words, “There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his friends.”  (John 15:13). And, as we gather together around the communion table, we are familiar with His command, “Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19). Why do we repeat the communion service? Lest we forget all our LORD has done for us in the cost of our salvation.

Today we pause because, like young children, we can so easily forget; forget the cost of our own freedom in this world. So, we thank the soldiers, sailors, airmen and women and nurses. And we can thank our God for His continued protection.

“Lest we forget”

Bob Rogers