I tried hard this morning. I really did. But no matter the “holiday”, my internal alarm clock went off as usual. The sounds and smells of morning and my coffee pot are irresistible to me. So here I am so very early, enjoying my coffee, listening to the sounds of the birds singing their “holiday” songs and smelling the unique smells of life in my little piece of the woods.
My heart takes it all in and files it away. The sounds and smells of peace. These are the moments I want to treasure. These special moments where I am alone and enjoying such beautiful peace that still exists in this chaotic, angry, and brutal world; they are priceless treasures. My children are still sleeping. They have yet to realize the treasure I have here. My middle-age mind wraps itself around the reality of how fleeting these “moments” come and then are gone…forever.
It sinks in a little farther when I open my “Unreached People Group” app on my tablet (yes, there is an app for EVERYTHING) to pray for people across the world that have never heard of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. So far from here, these are people who live in clans and struggle to live in peace. I really cannot fathom their lives. But I pray for their peace and their eyes to be open to the reality of the One who can, in the midst of difficulty and turmoil, bring meaning, purpose, and eternal peace to their lives.
And now, since it is Memorial Day, I begin to pray for the veterans of my nation who have faithfully served their country with great sacrifice. I pray for the families of those veterans who never came home. These men and women are heroes to a country that too often takes their peace for granted. We, as a nation, have not learned to treasure our moments of peace and safety. Worse, I fear that we, too often, are giving it away as government grows into a monstrosity it was never intended to be.
But this will not be a rant about government. No, today is about remembering. Remembering what these men and women did to secure my freedom and allow me the opportunity to enjoy my treasured moments here in the woods.
No one saw what you saw on that battlefield. Maybe no one understands the pain of what still haunts you today. While so many of us forget, you will never forget as you battle not only external wounds from war, but maybe the internal videos that never stop playing so you can enjoy peace. You are my hero today. I pray for you. I pray that in those moments where the battle rages in your mind, you will find the Prince of Peace is still able and willing to bring peace to your raging storms. He has never forgotten you. He remembers and He understands.
Jesus said this, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) And Jesus spoke from experience. If there is anyone who understands sacrifice, it is Him. While you may not be able to relate to me and my little place of peace; maybe you can relate to Jesus.
He was asked to lay down His life for undeserving people. A people steeped in sin and selfishness. A people unconcerned with either finding freedom or keeping true, lasting peace. Yet, He saw them and wept over their condition. And then He walked the difficult road to a cross so that they (and we) could enjoy freedom and peace from the power of sin, not just here, but for all eternity. He laid down His life so that we could be free. He knows dearly the cost of freedom.
I can never repay the debt that Christ paid for me to enjoy this internal peace that comes from knowing I was made for Him and now, able to freely enjoy Him forever. I owe him my life and pray I live it well as an offering of love and sacrifice.
Likewise, I can never repay the veteran who provided me with the opportunity to live in this little piece of the woods where I can breathe in the smells and listen to the sounds of peace. Today I remember you. I can only offer this piece of thankfulness that I write. Thank you for thinking of others above yourself. Thank you for protecting the sometimes undeserving. I pray that the life I live in this great nation will bring honor to your sacrifices. I pray that you, too, will have eyes to see the reality of the One who can, in the midst of your difficulty and pain, bring meaning, purpose, and eternal peace to your life.
May God bless you and may God bless this great nation.