Never forget
On Thursday of this week, we remember and honor all veterans, those brave men and women who have protected us and our freedom since our country’s founding over two centuries ago. Although, I know we appreciate them every day, November 11, is a special day to remember veterans.
I pray we never forget.
This year, as our troops were moved out of Afghanistan in an effort to end America’s longest military conflict, we were also made vividly aware of how our military protects those in other countries as well. I’m not going to focus on the rightness or wrongness of our engagement in conflict on foreign soil except to say that our history shows that we, as a nation, have attempted to intervene when freedom or well-being of people in other countries has been threatened.
I view this love and concern for others as an extension of God’s love and protection. Our military seek to shield and protect the vulnerable, the oppressed, and those in harm’s way.
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Proverbs 2:7-8
Some veterans of Afghanistan expressed concern and regret that their service had been in vain. We don’t always see the evidence of our attempts to help, but surely God supports our efforts to protect others from evil.
The LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off. Psalm 37:28
This sacrifice by our military personnel comes at a price. My father was a veteran. His family always said that, “One man went to war, but another came back.” Our brave men and women are forever changed by the experience of war and many suffer ongoing anguish and pain, even after attempts to return to “normal” life (as if life can ever be normal again). Some never recover from the experience or war.
Some service personnel make the ultimate sacrifice and don’t come home.
I hope you will reach out to those veterans you know and thank them for their service. Most of these men and women continue to give back, they feel the call to serve and inspire us to serve as well.
Let us not forget their sacrifice.
We can let them know how much we appreciate their service and their sacrifice. Let us also thank our law enforcement personnel and firefighters. Like our military, they put their lives on the line on a daily basis to protect us or persons in other countries that need our help.
Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and blessed Veteran’s Day.
I love that you’ve used yourself post this week to honor our veterans. Thanks for reminding all of us to remember the sacrifices of all who have served.
Growing up with a military father who loved our country and was honored to defend freedom during World War II, I developed a great respect for the sacrifices made by our military and service personnel. Thank you, Terri, for helping to spread the message. Wishing you a blessed week.
We can never appreciate our military and law enforcement personnel enough. Without all their service and sacrifices, where would we be? Thanks for focusing on them this week.
You are right, Barbara. We owe those brave men and women more than we can repay–much like the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We are so blessed. Thank you also for thinking of our service personnel in your blog message this week. War is a tragedy, but as you point out, sometimes necessary.
Thank you for this beautiful post and reminder. Growing up, I remember the whistle in our city blew at 11:00 and everyone stopped what they were doing-workplace included- to pause and say a prayer of thanks for veterans. What a price some have paid! May we not take it lightly.
Thank you for sharing that memory, Marilyn. I think that we may not be quite as good at remembering our veterans now as in the past. I hope we can do better and let them know how grateful we are for their service.
Military service can change many people Ms. Katherine; and sometimes God is the only real way to help them overcome the effects of war. Thank you for thinking of our nation’s veterans this week. Many have forgotten or will never understand why it’s so important to honor their sacrifice. In fact, many can’t tell you the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. When I encounter this, I simply reply with, “The difference is that while all paid a price, some (just like Jesus Christ did for us) paid the ultimate price.” God’s blessings my friend.
I agree, J.D. Only God can truly heal the brokenness that veterans (or the rest of us) feel as a result of the agony of being in combat or experiencing other tragedies. Perhaps we can be an extension of God’s hands and heart in extending our love and gratitude to veterans and all others in service roles. Yes, I’m aware of the confusion between Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day. Thank you for reminding us that Memorial Day is when we remember those who (like Jesus) made the ultimate sacrifice of love. On Veteran’s Day, we honor all those who served. Thank you for your service, my friend. You are a blessing.
I love this reminder: “We don’t always see the evidence of our attempts to help, but surely God supports our efforts to protect others from evil” which is backed up with Proverbs 2:7. We hear a lot of dissention surrounding our country’s intervention on foreign soil, but I agree we should intervene when the freedom and well-being of others is threatened.
My son was a Marine and loved serving his country, and those were tough times for us all. Thanks for honoring him and all vets with your post.
Candyce, I think it is so sad that some people dishonor our veterans instead of honoring them. Our military protects us and others, risking not only their lives, but their mental and emotional health as well. I’m grateful for your son’s service. That must have been hard on all of you, worrying about his health and safety. Please let him know we are thankful for his service. Wishing you a blessed week.
What your father said … “One man went to war but another one came back.” That’s poignant. I’ve written a manuscript with a hero who is a highly decorated Marine whose returned to civilian life but carries the ravages of war along with him in the form of PTSD. The research to create a believable and sympathetic hero was transformative for me. I was deeply moved by their service on a level I’d never been before. Great tribute and prompt to remember these men and women in military and under appreciated first responders, Katherine.
Taking the time to get to know veterans and understand what they have experienced and the long-term effects they suffer is important. I’m thankful you are writing a book which will help others understand PTSD and the other ravages which our veterans experience. We need to remember these brave men and women are real people, not just numbers or statistics. I look forward to your book. Thank you for your understanding, encouragement, and support of those who serve, Mary.
Thank you, Katherine, for such a thoughtful post. I especially appreciated your insights for those who may feel their service was for nothing, “We don’t always see the evidence of our attempts to help, but surely God supports our efforts to protect others from evil.”
Thank you for your encouragement, Kathy, and for joining me in honoring and expressing gratitude to those who serve. And I especially want to thank you for your ministry of service through your writing, teaching, and mentoring of our children and youth.
Katherine, I love this perspective: “I view this love and concern for others as an extension of God’s love and protection.” Thanks for honoring our vets!
Thank you for your encouragement and kind response, Sylvia. I hope you will join me in honoring our veterans and service personnel.
Thank you, Katherine, for honoring the men and women who secure and protect our nation’s freedom and that of other nations. My dad was a WW2 veteran. I’m also grateful for the Scripture you included to remind us of God’s ultimate protection of His people. Great post.
I’m sure your father’s service changed him, but I am grateful that he answered the call to protect us and other countries that fought and sacrificed to stop the spread of evil and persecution. I pray we always remember the sacrifices made by our military and all those who serve and continue to express our gratitude.
I have to echo what others have said — we can never say “thank you” enough or show too much respect for our service men and women and first responders. Thank you for the reminder and I love how you tied their work into God’s love and protection of us. Beautiful thoughts!
Thank you, Leigh. I am thankful that you and others who joined in our conversation, are so supportive of our service personnel. I know that appreciate our expressions of gratitude. Peace and blessings!
America has only asked for the land in which to bury our dead. We don’t colonize.
Right, Nancy. Some of those cemeteries are vast. I’m thankful that many of those countries, particularly in Europe, continue to honor the sacrifices of those who gave all.
I am so thankful for our military and first responders. I saw a shirt the other day that said, “Be the kind of American someone would want to fight for.” That has stuck with me. Words can never express my gratitude for the freedoms we have that others gave their life for.
That’s such a thought provoking message on that t-shirt. Thank you for sharing, Jen. I hope we can all be that kind of person. We are truly blessed, aren’t we?
Beautiful reminder of what’s important, Katherine. I tell my fellow Marines who are disheartened over whether their service in Afghanistan might have been for nothing that there were thousands upon thousands of Afghans who witnessed Christ in them and were forever changed. They tasted freedom and now have an inkling of what we wanted for them. Many gave their lives to Christ, and although they might have died for that decision, have died to eternal life in Him. God’s plan is always perfect.
Thanks for this
Thank you for your service, Rosemarie, and your ongoing support of Afghanistan and other veterans. We can never repay the debt we owe to all of you, but I pray we keep on trying.