MEMORIAL THANKS
I hated being the Private when I was a kid… My older brother Bobby was usually the Captain, he appointed my sister Sergeant, and me private. I hated taking orders from them, especially when they ordered me to eat dirt. I remember the one time I snapped from the orders and physically attacked the Sergeant, my sister, with a piece of rubber hose one of my brothers had discarded from a siphoning adventure.
I’m not sure what title our dad would have had in the make-believe scenario, I guess the General, but I didn’t even know he was home… I wasn’t given any time in the stockade, but I did get a few lashings for my actions… and the President didn’t care if the game we were playing was make believe.
I can’t recall the times as a kid we played “Army Man.” It was the favorite game for the neighborhood boys when we were young. We all had some type of inborn nature to want to be heroes. To pretend to die for a good cause; saving people by our courage and sacrifice.
Like most dreams of childhood, they slip away except for only a small group, the strong, the gifted. The ones who went on to serve our country are a special group of people. Whatever the reason or scenario, I think the ones called to the service of others are a group that can only be called heroes.
The history of the world is written by God and the ones He’s called for the service of others. We admire many strong people in this life, but none more than the ones who are willing to lay down their lives for the good of others. Jesus Christ spelled it out perfectly, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
It’s funny we don’t associate service, bravery, and courage with love, but that’s exactly what it is. A person who is willing to put themselves last in selfless service is the epitome of love from a Biblical perspective.
I hope we all appreciate and remember the ones who’ve shown us, the people they didn’t even know, the love we didn’t earn. I pray we honor the ones who paid the price of pure love to protect their loved ones and our way of life this Memorial Day and give a big memorial thanks!
May God bless the families of the ones who went before us and may He bless the ones serving now. May He keep them from harms way and bring them home quickly and safely. May we remember the blessings and the foundation upon which this country was built and honor the One who is our ultimate protection. May He raise up all of us to stand for that which He’s called us.
May we serve in the capacity He’s called us for with the same honor as the other men and women who’ve gone before us with the higher calling to serve this country. May God bless our troops… and may God bless America.
Jason Stasyszen
Monday, May 28, 2012 @ 9:47 am
“The history of the world is written by God and the ones He’s called for the service of others.” That’s a profound statement, Floyd. In every way we serve, it influences lives in ways we don’t even understand–all for His glory.
And amen to your prayer, in Jesus’ name. Thanks Floyd.
Floyd
Monday, May 28, 2012 @ 10:21 am
Thanks Jason. I hear you, we can’t begin to fathom the depths of how he might use all of us for His service. The ones He’s called to sacrifice deserve our Memorial Thanks.
Dan Black
Monday, May 28, 2012 @ 10:49 am
Great post. I thank you people who have and who will serve for our country. Those who have lost their life for our freedom.
Floyd
Monday, May 28, 2012 @ 11:41 am
Amen Dan… Amen.
Lisa notes
Monday, May 28, 2012 @ 11:04 am
Nice tribute to all the brave men and women out there who serve. I have to admit my wimpiness in never even playing Army as a kid. So thankful for those who are NOT like me!
Floyd
Monday, May 28, 2012 @ 11:56 am
I hear you Lisa, but that’s not what we were called for. I know for sure you’re doing your part!
Hazel Moon
Monday, May 28, 2012 @ 5:55 pm
Whether it was army or cow boys and indians, we all seemed to love to be on a team and fight against evil. Thanks for another great post. I will put this one on Tell me a Story.
Floyd
Monday, May 28, 2012 @ 6:03 pm
I was thinking of cowboys and indians as I wrote this. You nailed it Hazel, we wanted to be on the side of goodness. Funny how kids instinctively know good from evil. Thanks for posting it.
Nancy
Monday, May 28, 2012 @ 11:27 pm
I have been reading about Joshua band his new band of brothers. Whew! They had a lot to do. Their freedom, and obtaining their promised land, was not free. They had to fight for it. They had to obey God. Their priests went first carrying the ark. The walls of Jericho were felled with a mighty shout of worship.
Then after Joshua died…the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?
And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.” – Judges 1: 1-2
“Send Judah First” shows that by giving praise to God in all things and at all times, we can overcome all adversity. In Bible times, musicians & worshipers marched at the front of Israel’s army. They were the first ones into battle. I just wonder what it would be like for our troops to send in those who know how to worship God!
WE are ALL included in God’s army in some capacity….and we DO have a responsibility to uphold our country and the freedoms it has obtained through great sacrifice. I’ll Let my thanksgiving ring out. May god Bless American as America blesses God! Amen.
Floyd
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 @ 7:00 am
Well and eloquently said Nancy. Amen!
Diane
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 @ 4:49 am
Floyd, all day yesterday, I kept thinking about what you would post on Tell Me A Story. I couldn’t wait to read it. This is so very true: “It’s funny we don’t associate service, bravery, and courage with love, but that’s exactly what it is. A person who is willing to put themselves last in selfless service is the epitome of love from a Biblical perspective.”
Amen to all you wrote!
Floyd
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 @ 7:02 am
Thanks for the kind words Diane. I appreciate the encouragement, God bless.
Jay Cookingham
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 @ 8:58 am
I try to make it a point to tell every veteran I see…”thank you”. I never feel like it’s enough but I feel compelled to say it. Nearly makes me cry each time as well. Good post bro’
Floyd
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 @ 9:16 am
Thanks Jay, I’m with you. I seek them out, especially on Memorial Day to shake their hands and say “Thank you.”
Joanne Norton
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 @ 7:04 pm
I agree so strongly with you on every aspect. AND one portion most people don’t understand and appreciate… even neighborhood, family, individual servers of the Lord… in physical or spiritual warfare … whether here, in other nations, or dealing with “heaven or hell”, we must be soldiers for our Lord. And we must respect and encourage each other to keep marching forward. That’s my goal. Every day.
Floyd
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 @ 6:59 am
Well said Joanne. I’m with you, we might not be called to stand on the front line, but that doesn’t mean we’re not called to stand somewhere for what we know and live within our souls. Great passion, thanks.