Reverence

The word reverence gets used more than it should. It is often used as a description of people you respect, admire, or hold in high regard. Don’t get me wrong, there are many exceptional people in this world and we should learn as much as we can from them to better ourselves, but to actually have reverence can not, and should not, be used lightly. Reverence is much more than respect. It is a deep admiration and appreciation that only comes from the depths of your soul. It is to be awe-filled to the point of bending a knee because of it.

For me, I revere only two things. Reverence is first reserved for God, my creator. Second, reverence is reserved for those who were willing to selflessly sacrifice their life to protect the freedoms I enjoy as a civilian in the United States of America. I grew up in a military family and went through the stresses of deployment when my dad was gone during my sophomore year in high school. I also work with veterans, active soldiers, and their families on a daily basis, but I will never come close to knowing what it is like to lose someone in this way, whether that be as a family member or as a fellow soldier.

Like me, many of us in this country will not know what it is like to lose someone who voluntarily chose to sign their name on the dotted line knowing full well that their signature and commitment going forward could be potentially paid by the cost of their life. Did these brave men and women know that they would lay their life down? The answer is probably not. But they were willing to do so. We, unlike a majority of other nations across this globe, are sheltered from the harsh realities of war at home and abroad. In a way, being sheltered from these realities is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because we are extremely fortunate that we have a dedicated one percent willing to shield us from the realities of war. A curse because being sheltered can create a thankless and apathetic environment. A thankless and apathetic environment is the root of societal decay in my opinion.

Memorial Day is a time-honored tradition and I know that for all of the gold-star families, active soldiers and veterans who lost loved ones and friends, it is a day not only to remember, but a day to keep the memories of those brave men and women alive. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sums these sentiments up best when he said, “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy, forget in time that men have died to win them.”

My plea, to those like me, who will never fully understand what it means to serve, sacrifice, or lose someone who was willing to do those things for our freedoms is this, think about the vast difference between showing respect or being grateful and having true reverence. Honoring all who have offered the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom is not only a privilege but a sacred responsibility. Reserve your reverence for them. The only way to show that reverence is to live out a life that honors their sacrifice.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live them.”

John F. Kennedy