“No Greater Love”
By Dianne Prince
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13, NKJV).
Can you imagine what life in the United States would be like if we had no veterans? This morning we pause to pay tribute to all American military veterans who sacrificed their time, their skills, and their energy to keep this country safe. We express our gratefulness to them for their service to our country and their commitment to democracy as a way of life.
We celebrate those brave men and women who stood watch twenty-four hours a day while we slept. We celebrate those walking among us who gave of themselves, sacrificed their family relationships, and put aside their personal desires in order to serve those of us whom they have never met. We celebrate those who returned home with a compromised mental capacity or with a severe physical disability. And we reflect on the lives of all those who died for us to enjoy a life of independence, free will, and personal choice.
Today, we also say, “Thank you” to all families who have lost a loved one due to their military service and those who currently have a loved one who is on active duty somewhere in this world. It is because of God working through their hands, their feet and their minds that our democracy stands. Because of their commitment, we are free to live and travel anywhere we desire. We are able to worship at the church of our choice, work at any job for which we qualify, raise our families the way we choose, and receive a free education in our neighborhood public schools.
Today, tell a Veteran, “Thank you.” Memorialize the deceased. Appreciate those who you can see, feel, and touch. Tell God thank you. And keep Jesus at the forefront of all you do and say today.
