From my heart to yours...
Walking the streets of old town Riga we came upon a sight I will never forget. Entering the main square on Freedom Boulevard, you find yourself looking to the opposite side where a monument rises 138 feet upward. The Freedom Monument was constructed to honor the soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918 - 1920). In more recent years, I have heard it called Lady Freedom. She is holding her arms upward lifting three stars which center around the theme "Shine like a star".
Around the base of the monument there are pictures and sculpting depicting various aspects of Latvian life and history. One of these is entitled "Family", a mother with two children. I found it ironic when I saw what was in front of me. What I will never forget is what has been laid out in the square in the foreground of the monument.
Concrete sculptors of babies who have lost their lives out of fear, inconvenience, ignorance and modern day contraception.
Our hearts grieved over the sight, yet part of me was proud of those Latvians who are brave to face their society and put this out there....
One side of a plaza honoring those who gave their lives in a war for freedom (and rightly so) and opposite a display of those whose lives were taken from them. Neither should be forgotten.
As I was editing, deleting and tweaking this post, I was reminded of how quick we are to "delete" what is unwanted.
There is a Father in Heaven. There is a God who wants. There is a God who does not delete.
Sorry if this posting is heavy and leaves our hearts deeply saddened. It should. It is very visual and should impact our lives. It is meant to. God give us hearts of love, deep love, patience and compassion, to reach out to those who too quickly and in anguish press the "delete" button in their lives. Help us to be the arms, feet and heart of Jesus to bring love, forgiveness, redemption and freedom to those around us.
Walking the streets of old town Riga we came upon a sight I will never forget. Entering the main square on Freedom Boulevard, you find yourself looking to the opposite side where a monument rises 138 feet upward. The Freedom Monument was constructed to honor the soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918 - 1920). In more recent years, I have heard it called Lady Freedom. She is holding her arms upward lifting three stars which center around the theme "Shine like a star".
Around the base of the monument there are pictures and sculpting depicting various aspects of Latvian life and history. One of these is entitled "Family", a mother with two children. I found it ironic when I saw what was in front of me. What I will never forget is what has been laid out in the square in the foreground of the monument.
Concrete sculptors of babies who have lost their lives out of fear, inconvenience, ignorance and modern day contraception.
Perhaps if your eyesight is better than mine...you can read some of the inscriptions...
Our hearts grieved over the sight, yet part of me was proud of those Latvians who are brave to face their society and put this out there....
One side of a plaza honoring those who gave their lives in a war for freedom (and rightly so) and opposite a display of those whose lives were taken from them. Neither should be forgotten.
As I was editing, deleting and tweaking this post, I was reminded of how quick we are to "delete" what is unwanted.
There is a Father in Heaven. There is a God who wants. There is a God who does not delete.
Sorry if this posting is heavy and leaves our hearts deeply saddened. It should. It is very visual and should impact our lives. It is meant to. God give us hearts of love, deep love, patience and compassion, to reach out to those who too quickly and in anguish press the "delete" button in their lives. Help us to be the arms, feet and heart of Jesus to bring love, forgiveness, redemption and freedom to those around us.
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