Remembering Our Veterans

November 1, 2021
Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
John 15:13

I want to begin by saying “Thank You” to all the Veterans for their commitment and service for our country, as tomorrow, November 11th, we have an opportunity to celebrate Veterans Day. I am blessed to be married to a veteran whom God brought into my life when I was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho some 37 years ago. We met people from all over the world and from every walk of life and it was an awesome experience to see that we could work together well for a common cause.

Wouldn’t it be even more amazing to have that same experience with our fellow human beings right where we are now?

Please take an extra moment this week and thank a veteran. Some have war time scars that are visible and some have conflict scars no one can see. Others of us have only very happy memories of serving during peace time, either way, to willingly choose to leave home and family to enter into the military is a big thing, so look the veteran square in the eye and with a grateful heart, say “Thank you for your service”.

The scripture for this week is often quoted for Memorial Day, and rightly so, but I felt it would be good food for thought for this week as we have an opportunity to thank those who willingly serve and give a thank you prayer for those who have served in years gone by. John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (NIV).

In an article I found concerning this scripture, Meg Bucher writes; “The love Christ introduced is agape love. This love, according to christianity.com, “refers to a pure, willful, sacrificial love that intentionally desires another’s highest good.” Contrary to the way the world loves selfishly, Jesus loved selflessly and taught His followers to aim for the same. This type of love is almost indescribable, a product of the very character of God, who is perfect love”. (for Crosswalk.com – accessed 11-10-2021) I will close this meditation with the words of a hymn that speaks to my heart about God’s heart for the reason we even have to have military forces: “Keep bright in us the vision of days when war shall cease, when hatred and division give way to love and peace, til dawns the morning glorious when truth and justice reign, and Christ shall rule victorious o’er all the world’s domain” (O God of Every Nation – United Methodist Hymnal #435)

AMEN!