No Greater Love
Some didn't finish School, only to find themselves in fox holes, on the
beaches, or diving out of planes...to fight battles. For me. For you. They
are our Veterans. We owe them our freedoms. The freedom to worship
as we wish, or not at all. Our freedoms came at a terrible price. From
the beginning, men and women risked death, some died...to ensure us
of a life with freedom. Even the freedom to protest against those fights.
Thank you doesn't seem to be enough. But that's all I can offer to those
who served, so I could sit at this desk and write about my thoughts and
beliefs, with impunity. Thank you isn't enough, to soothe the grief or
sorrow of those who mourn the ones who gave all, to allow our children
the freedom to pursue happiness.
We can never thank those who served, enough. But on this day, we try
to honor the sacrifices of so many. It's hard to imagine washing with
water in a helmet, eating from small cans in a hole, carrying everything
needed for survival in a pack on one's back. Harder still to know what
it's like to dodge bullets or find shelter from bombs or shells. Yet those
who did, have to live with the memories.
Our Veterans are dying at the rate of about 1500 per day. Take the time today,
to say Thank you, to those who served. If they hadn't, you most likely wouldn't
be reading this, you wouldn't go to the church of your own choosing, your
children may have been pressed into military service at an early age...
Thank you. to all who served. There is no greater love, than to be willing
to lay down one's life for friends. (paraphrased from John 15:13).
Father, we thank You for our Veterans. Thank You for their willingness
to serve, that we may be free to worship You as we wish. The example
of sacrifice set down by Jesus, is personalized by many of them. Most
of us will never know how much they gave. Give us that love and the will
to serve in Your army. Help us to boldly offer hope, in helping others to
see Jesus and His love in our lives. Forgive our sins as we also forgive
other sinners. We lift our prayers for our Veterans. It's in the Holy
name of Jesus we pray.... Amen.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13
© Steven Green 2003
