LifeLink Devotional

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

As I typed the date on this devotional, I was struck by a thought that brought a tear to my eye. This will be the first year that on November 11^th I am not able to call my dad and thank him for his sacrificial service as a veteran of military duty in World War 2. Veteran’s Day was a big deal to my dad. He was a few months short of his 18^th birthday  when he and his twin brother enlisted. He was very proud to have served. He was very thankful for the personal and political freedoms he fought to protect. He understood the respect and honor that is due to the Republic of the United States of America.

Every year on Veteran’s Day he would stand in front of his military display in his apartment and salute. On the wall were his medals and commendations from his time in England as a propeller mechanic on the B17 bombers. There was his personal pocket New Testament he carried. There was a picture of the Queen Mary, the vessel used to transport him home from England after the war. And there was a flag. He had rules for the flag. Rules of respect. Respect he made sure I understood. Respect we should all have.

I interrupted my writing to go through the door of my office into our storage area and opened the box that contains his military memorabilia. I stared intently at the picture of a teenage boy in his dress uniform and wondered what was going through his mind. I picked up the New Testament and realized that his faith in Jesus Christ combined with his respect for liberty made him courageous enough to fight for both.

I am sad today that I will not be able to call him and thank him for his service to our country. I won’t be picking him up and taking him to lunch and dinner at different restaurants that offer free meals to Veterans on this day. But my heart is comforted knowing this: my dad is living eternally in the freedom of glory. Jesus willingly gave His life to purchase my dad’s freedom from the oppression of sin. My dad was willing to put his life on the line to purchase freedom from political oppression.

I am proud of my dad and his twin brother. They taught me to honor and respect the constitution of the United States of America. They taught me to cherish the freedoms that cost so much to purchase. They taught me to never break my allegiance to the Republic.

So today, in honor of my dad and all the other Veterans of military duty, I stand in front of my dad’s military display in my basement and I salute you all. And as I did with my dad on several occasions, I renew my pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.