Compassion For Our Veterans

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. It is a day to be thankful for every person who has served his/her country. I am not privileged to be from a family of Veterans so I have never had the personal connection that others who have lived with the separation time, the fearful times of war, or the painful loss of someone dear.

Although it is fiction, the book, "The Women" by Kristin Hannah, (one of my favorite authors), presented a powerful story of the women who served as nurses during war times. Her research gave the story a true life feel and perspective that was gut-wrenching at times - just as war times must be.

I can only imagine how difficult it must be for servicemen and servicewomen to be far from home and family, facing danger every minute, not knowing if they would be going home. Our Vietnam War Veterans also faced an angry public backlash when they did get home. Some of those Veterans still suffer the torment of flashbacks from a terrible conflict. 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God," (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV). 

Only God can help those who served, by being side-by-side with them in battle, in their bunks, in the dark, when they are alone years later. It seems like it has taken us 50+ years to find ways to help these men and women return to the living.

Lord God, I lift up our Veterans, asking that You touch their broken hearts with Your comfort. Heal those who still suffer the memories that tear them up inside. Help us reach out to our Veterans with compassion and appreciation for protecting our freedoms around the world. Give wisdom to those who help them endure their past. Bring blessings over our Veterans who have served so faithfully. In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.