Thought For The Day – Wednesday 1st November 2023
Remembrance and Respect
This time of year is one of remembrance and respect.
As the beautiful and vivid colours of autumn transition to the magic and mystery of winter, with the hope of spring and the warmth of summer to come, we remember and we respect.
Today, in Mexican culture, relatives who have passed away are happily remembered.
November 1st and November 2nd is very important in Christianity. November 1st is All Saints’ Day, remembering good people, whilst November 2nd is All Souls’ Day remembers those who have passed away, especially those in the past year.
Those we love are always with us and always inspire and guide us. We continue their positive legacy. We may hope for Heaven.
At this time of year also, people wear poppies. The poppy grew on Flanders Fields in Belgium and in Northern France in the First World War. Shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, Belgium, in the First World War, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian doctor, was very moved by the sight of these beautiful poppies. Hope in the greatest adversity. This inspiration led him to write the poem “In Flanders Fields”. It would inspire The Poppy Appeal, first started 102 years ago.
As we mention each year, the poppy remembers those inspirational and wonderful people, and their families, who have suffered, served and sacrificed, and those inspirational people, and their families, who still suffer, serve and sacrifice. The poppy remembers all those who suffer, and have suffered, because of conflict and war. Vitally too, the poppy also remembers other inspirational and wonderful people: the emergency services and the victims of terrorism.
Poppies, now plastic-free, reflecting environmental care, will be available in the playground at break. Feel free to recycle your poppy from previous years. Any donations to The Royal British Legion are very welcome as we care for others.
It is so very important that people are, and the environment is, remembered, respected and looked after.
Both are sacred.
Remembrance and respect affects how we treat people, what we do and what we say, in person and on-line, today, tomorrow and always as we build a word of care, compassion, kindness, justice, love, peace, thoughtfulness and understanding, with no negative prejudice and discrimination.