Near the end of a long work day, a former boss would often tell me, “No more today, Henry. My brain is full.” A young man at the time and unfettered by maturity’s burdens, I found this rather amusing. But the older I get, the more truthful his words become. Memories do seem to slowly fade as our minds become saturated by the pace and pressures of these present times. It is easy to forget.
This is one reason I enjoy the month of May—it ushers in a special season of honor and remembrance. We honor our mothers on Mother’s Day, remember our fallen heroes on Memorial Day, and then honor our fathers on Father’s Day in June. It is surely a good thing to remember and thank God for our parents and those who fought to defend our nation’s freedoms. Without them we would not be here today, so it is important to honor their influence and sacrifice in a truly meaningful way.
In similar respects, ICR has been greatly blessed by gifts made in honor or in memory of loved ones. Moving testimonies of the person and their love for ICR’s ministry often accompany such gifts, demonstrating the thought and care taken by the donor in his decision to make them. ICR is deeply humbled by such gifts—they are perhaps the most personal expressions we ever receive.
Memorial gifts for loved ones now in heaven can be made in lieu of flowers or in remembrance of special anniversaries long after the Lord has called them home. In contrast, gifts are sometimes made to honor a living person who has had a significant impact on the donor’s life. In either case, gifts such as these can provide a deep sense of connection with the honored loved one, as well as a more lasting and tangible remembrance because the donor knows they will support ministry programs precious to the honoree.
It is ICR’s sincere privilege to assist our supporters who wish to acknowledge a loved one, and we are pleased to offer the opportunity to send letters of thanks and recognition on your behalf to family and friends of your choosing. For memorial gifts, ICR will send a letter to the family with words of comfort and encouragement that highlight the Lord’s deep abiding love for us. And for gifts made in honor, we would be delighted to send your special person a grateful letter informing them of your honorary gift. ICR will provide a copy of all letters prepared on your behalf, along with our thanks and a tax-deductible receipt for your gift.
If such a gift seems especially appropriate to you, please help ICR minister effectively by providing the following information along with your gift:
- The name of the person you wish to honor (living) or remember (in glory)
- His/her relationship to you
- The names and addresses of those you wish to be notified of your gift (amounts will not be mentioned)
- The relationship of those notified to the person being honored
Remember loved ones who have gone on before, and honor those whose living testimonies have touched you. But most importantly, we must remember the One whose very Name established the greatest memorial of all. “Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations” (Psalm 135:13).
* Mr. Morris is Director of Donor Relations at the Institute for Creation Research.
Cite this article: Morris IV, H. 2012. Honor and Remembrance. Acts & Facts. 41 (5): 21.
