This past week, our nation celebrated Veteran’s Day. Today, is the 10th anniversary of our son leaving home to join the United States Navy. It is hard to believe that it has been a decade. We, of course, are very proud of him.

I have never been an overly emotional person. I have been described on numerous occasions as “a hard ass”. I guess that is part my personality and part of the way I grew up. When Kameran left for the Navy I didn’t cry. I wasn’t devastated. I had raised him to become his own, independent person. I always told my kids as they were growing up, “My job is not to be your friend. My job is to make you a responsible member of society”. I will admit that now that I am a little older, and perhaps a little softer, I do cry when he leaves after a visit.

But as I think of what to share this week, I want to honor those who serve.  Where would we be today, without those willing to set aside their own lives and dreams, to serve on our behalf?  Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  Greater love…think about that for a moment. Who would you be willing to die for? We all would say that we would willingly die for our children. But would you willingly die for someone you don’t even know?

My husband and I went to the movies and saw “Midway”. What struck me most about this movie was their will to fight! And I am not talking about fighting with laser guided missiles. I am talking about taking their fight to the face of the enemy. The courage was beyond belief! At one point in the movie, the pilot and his bombardier had just returned to their ship after an intense battle. But they weren’t finished. They had to go back out. The bombardier was a young man, and he was afraid. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to go back out to fight another battle. But in their conversation, the pilot explained that the world was counting on them. They had to stop the Japanese from advancing. The battle of Midway proved to be a pivotal point in the war of the Pacific.

Jesus showed us that same love. He went to the cross willingly, to die in our place. He loves us that much! Just like the pilot in the battle of Midway, he knew how important it was to the world, that he face the enemy, and defeat him! You see, when Jesus died on the cross for our sins and then three days later, rose from the grave, he won the battle over death! His death paid the price, and in His sacrifice, we find life eternal. 

Veteran’s Day is a day we honor those who serve. Those who have left their lives and families behind to fight for our freedom and many have died sacrificially, protecting us from the evil that tries to overtake this world. Jesus left the wonders of heaven to die, hung on a cross, for you. He loves you even more than a veteran.

If you’d like to know more about Jesus and how much he loves you, please follow this link, https://stepstopeace.org/.