Honored to Serve
Happy Veterans Day. Today I had the opportunity to speak at a local Veterans of Foreign Wars where one of my fellow combat veterans from 2004-2005 is a member. Throughout my military career, I have spoken at countless events, but today felt different.
As I looked across the crowd, I knew what I needed to say. Like many who stood around me, there have been days when I questioned whether what we did, whether the sacrifices we made mattered. As I looked at my girls in the audience, I was quickly reminded of all the birthdays, holidays, and special events Rob and I have missed as we served our Nation. I recalled sitting at the kitchen table while we talked to both our moms and told them if we didn’t make it back from combat, that they should take comfort knowing we were doing what we believed in…as a mom, I cannot imagine hearing those words from my child.
Ft Bragg en route to Iraq, 2004
I have been focused on humility lately, but today, Selfless Service and Servant Leadership are resonating with me. The greatest Selfless and Suffering Servant of all time was Jesus Christ. He became man and walked this earth knowing that he would suffer and die so that we all may be saved. We read throughout the Gospels all that Jesus did from teaching to miraculous healing, but all that pales in comparison to His ultimate sacrifice so that we “shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).
The sacrifice made by our military is not the same as that of Jesus, but time and again, we choose to leave all that we love and treasure to serve something greater than ourselves. We sacrifice time with our family, walk away from things we hold dear not knowing when or if we will see them again. We have suffered through broken relationships, displacement and often feeling forever different than those around us because sacrifice does not come without loss or suffering. We do not seek glory or recognition and ribbons on our chest do not begin to tell our story.
What if, all of us, stopped focusing on self but looked to serve and sacrifice for something greater than self? What if we truly followed Jesus not only in word but in deed? What if we, like Jesus, after every deed we did not seek glory- “See that you don’t tell this to anyone” but instead encouraged those we help to turn and do the same for someone else-all for the Glory of God? (Mark 1:44, NIV).
Less than 1% of Americans serve in the military. Selfless service is hard, it’s not a choice easily made nor is it a path easily sustained. Today, I am honored to have served for over 30 years and thankful for the ones that stood to the left and right of me day after day, put the needs of others, of this Nation, above self. Thank you.
Today, I pray that you take the time to not just thank a Veteran, but to sit down with them. Hear their story…their history is the foundation of this Nation and the reason I can freely write and speak about my faith today. Today I pray my fellow Veterans never forget that what they did matters. They matter. As a wife, a mother, an American, and a bold Christian, I am thankful for my freedoms because of you.
