Thursday, April 7
About War
When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” —Deuteronomy 20:1-4
As a relative of those who have gone to war to ensure my freedoms, I am especially thankful for those who have served and those who are currently serving. They are willing to walk the rough road and face challenges of faith daily.
A couple of my relatives fought in World War II. One is still alive at 96 years old and has a very sharp memory of what the war was like. He fought in France and earned the French Legion of Merit, the Bronze star, and two purple hearts. His feet are damaged due to being frozen, as the war of a very hard winter raged in the midst of a more devastating war between nations. While standing in a doorway talking to a friend, a shell went off. The friend died. My relative did not. Another time an artillery shell came in and spun around and around. Thankfully, it was a dud. He and a number of his infantrymen were cut off from the rest of the unit for three days. The Germans were all around. Many in the unit perished.
Yet this relative went on to live a full life and served God by singing in the church choir for close to seventy years. He also was a servant to others by working at the Centenary Library book barn until he became too weak to lift books. His faith was challenged by rough roads, but he knew God and taught his children to know God as well.
I am thankful that his faith challenges were met and he never gave up on God. Without his faithfulness and without the love of God, I would not have my husband and my son.
Dear Faithful and Loving God: Many have faced the challenges of war and come out still being faithful. Thank you that I have not had to be in a war between nations and had to face those devastations. Thank you for always being with us no matter what the circumstances are and carrying us when we can no longer walk, for the road is rough. Your son faced so many challenges and bore them graciously. Help each of us to do the same when the road gets too challenging. Amen.
Daphne G. Grady