A Veteran to Remember

Veteran's day preserves the historical date but also to help Americans focus on the importance of honoring those that have served our country through their patriotism and their willingness to sacrifice for America's Freedom. Every year the President of the United States urges all Americans to honor the commitment of our Veterans through appropriate public ceremonies. It is an honor after serving 8 years for the United States Army, to know America does remember those who have fought and served to protect the freedom of America. Those that have entered our life and have placed a footprint into our souls are also veterans.

Darkness overpowers the land like a blanket covering your face at night. It is totally dark and not one sound can be heard, except the heavy breathing of dying men. Nothing seems to break the hypnotic breathing that pierces your soul like the nails that have pierced the hands and feet. Sweat drops mingled in blood that falls to the ground like a slow dripping faucet. Darker clouds roll in as to cover the eyes of God from seeing the pain and misery of his son. If you were to listen intently, you can hear the rhythmic sounds blended together. Gasp and a slow outlet of airflows from the lips of a man accused of a crime and yet innocent and pure. Out of the darkness Then you hear a man's gasping voice, "Woman, behold, your son!'' John 19:26 Can you imagine the three words from a child in pain and agony as the child comes near to death?

Do we ever remember the great or small things done by others in our lives? People come and go in our lives leaving the footprints in our souls. Some we sometimes want to forget and then there are those that seem as angels we cannot forget. I wonder what went on in the mind of Simon. Combining the scriptures together the story is told: When they led Him away, and as they were coming out, they found a passer-by coming from the country of Cyrene named Simon (the father of Alexander and Rufus), whom they pressed into service and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus. And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. (Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26-27). No thoughts were recorded but if you had been there, would it not be a memory to always remember?

Memories are the "Kodak" moments of life. Whether it is Veteran's day when we remember our loved ones who have fought for our freedom, or those that have come into our lives who have affected us in a special way. We must never forget those footprints left behind in our souls. Those feelings are the footprints left in our souls as we remember their presence in our lives.

We must always remember the one true veteran who was wounded for our transgressions, the one veteran who has fought the battle for us and has won! Jesus is our war veteran. He took our sins to the cross. This is the memorial we are to remember for generations to come. The great news is that the War is over and He won and through him we are made more than conquerors. Remember those who have given up their lives so we can have freedom in America but most of all; let us never forget the price that Christ paid so that we too may have freedom through Him. He is the one and true veteran that is not placed in the grave but is alive and is preparing a place for us to live with Him.