What Glenn Writes

This message is late as I tried to determine the best way to combine my usual humor with the intended message.  I found none.  With the passing of Memorial Day, I want to remember those whom have passed and offer some form of tribute to their sacrifice.  Somehow humor has no place in this writing.

I want to share a story of a young man walking into a small town post office during the Memorial Weekend celebrations.  As is the tradition of this small town, a veteran was standing near the post office door passing out hand made flowers and taking donations for their local VFW post.  As the vet offered a flower and a smile, the young man almost plowed him down in his anger and effort to ignore the man.  A few minutes later, another young man of about the same age walks around the corner and approaches the post office entrance, but this time the vet is more cautious.  As the second man approaches, the vet offers the same flower, a little more watchful and with a guarded smile.  The second young man not only greets the vet with a huge smile, taking the flower and shaking his hand, but puts a folded green bill in the clear offering jar.  The vet breathes easier, glancing down at the offering with renewed confidence in the generation the two young men represented.

To the veteran’s surprise, the bill wasn’t the usual dollar pressed through the slot in the lid, but a fifty-dollar bill.  Assuming the second young man made a mistake in his offering, he stopped him as he left the post office even though the first young man was right on his heels. 

The second young man’s reply was simply, “No sir, I didn’t make any mistake.  The fifty dollars is a small offering in comparison to what you gave for your country.  I only wish I could give more.”  He walked off, leaving both men staring - the elder smiling and the younger with his mouth hanging open.   

This story illustrates how America is divided in our understanding of the sacrifice made on our behalf.  Some forget, some never knew, while some will never forget what they know.  I also think some make the mistake of ignorance if they disagree with the war or war in general.  This is a sad approach to the sacrifices made by soldiers of all ages, as well as their families.  To say this in a different way: men, women, and children have all made a sacrifice for the freedom we all enjoy, whether we agree with wars or not, we enjoy the freedom the wars have secured. 

We are poor Americans when we cannot remember the soldiers (and their families) who gave up their goals, their lifestyles, and in many cases their lives, for our freedom and way of life.  We shall remain poor Americans until we break from our selfish thoughts and attitudes and finally remember those who died for our way of life. 

I am reminded of how often the Apostle Paul refers to this subject in his writings.  In 2 Timothy 1:3-5, we see Paul writing a letter of encouragement to Timothy, and sharing, “I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.  Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.  I have been reminded of your sincere faith…”  I believe Paul recognizes the importance of not forgetting those is service, those who sacrifice, and those who invest their time in others.  This also exhibits Paul’s selfless attitude and approach, taking his focus off himself and remembering others. 

We see this again in Romans 1:8-10 where he writes, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.  God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.”  Here we see Paul not only remembering others, but praying for a reunion.   

Perhaps the remembering part is not so difficult when the one serving in the military is a loved one.  Perhaps the remembering part is not so difficult, but even painful if the one lost in combat was a loved one.  In these cases, we have a natural loss; a part of our lives severed for a noble purpose, a just cause, and for the lives and freedom of others.  The pain is our own.  The sacrifice is our own.  The loss is our own. 

I believe Memorial Day provides a time for us to remember, and some of us need a reminder this somber holiday is more than just another day off.  We are called to reverence.  We are called to respect.  We are called to honor those who have gone before us, giving the ultimate sacrifice, and give tribute to their memory. 

As we are told in Philippians 2:4, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  Did the first young man in our opening story have his interests in mind or the interests of others?  Was his focus on himself or others? 

Galatians 6:9-10 encourages us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

As we remember the veterans… (our veterans, actually.  Isn’t that how we should refer to them?  Not so much “the veterans”, but “our veterans”?)  As we remember our veterans, we should not forget what they gave on our behalf so we may live in freedom.  From our earliest veterans, fighting against English tyranny, to our newest veterans fighting against Middle East tyranny, we enjoy the benefit of freedom they provide for us. 

John 15:13 tells us, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  For this, we know there have only been two friends who have died on our behalf: the American Soldier and Jesus Christ.  The American Soldier died so we may have physical freedom; Jesus Christ died so we may have spiritual freedom.  The American Soldier died so we may be free of the tyranny of men; Jesus Christ died so we may be free from the tyranny of evil.  And, just as many Americans need to be reminded of the sacrifice of the American Soldier, so should they be reminded of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

How do you celebrate your freedom?  May I suggest a prayer to Jesus Christ?  May I suggest a prayer of thanks for those American Soldiers who gave everything for your freedom to pray?  May I suggest a prayer for our veterans? 

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Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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