ECCLESIASTES 3:1, 3, 8
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven…
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes is clear about this: there is a time for peace and there is a time for war. Yet most of us don’t volunteer to go to war. Soldiers have be given a special grace and anointing by God to protect and defend the citizens of the United States of America. They are willing to go and do things we, as polite citizens, would never dream of doing. They have accepted the call to be the front line defense of the freedoms we so thoroughly enjoy. Without our volunteer armed forces, young men across the nation would be forced to discover the time to kill and the time to heal would be out of their control.
As we celebrate the veterans of this great nation today, I sat and thought about the sacrifices so many of the men and women of the armed forces have made on the behalf of a (most times) grateful nation. We hear about and know the things soldiers give up: personal freedoms, family time, limbs and sometimes, life. Yet do we think about the things our veterans have given up but are not always recognized as sacrifices?
Things like employment opportunities; “normal” adulthood; missing toddlers first steps and first teeth and teenager’s proms and homecomings; wedding anniversaries; hanging out with friends at the game; pursuing a higher education; access to movie streaming and 2 day delivery of goods; and regular church attendance.
We take it for granted that we won’t have our superiors yelling orders at us and we didn’t have to go through boot camp, war school, combat or killing fields in order to just do our job.
Special job incentives have to be made to employers just to get them to recruit, train and retain lower ranking veterans who have been honorably discharged by the country they have served. Our veterans sometimes have to fight all over again just to get the quality health and mental care they so desperately deserve and need. Many of our heroes are living on the streets because they are suffering from p.t.s.d. and other combat induced mental and physical traumas.
The United States of America has approximately 18, 200,000 veterans of the armed forces living today. There are about 400,000 veterans from World War II which are still alive today. Young men and women across the nation are volunteering daily to become a part of one of the largest armed forces on the planet. Countless men and women, across generations, racial lines and cultural differences are due the honor and respect of a thankful nation. Whether you believe in war and conflict or not, the sacrifices of these people should be acknowledged and commended.
On behalf of Global Girl Ministries International staff, members and friends, I would like to thank the veterans of the United States Marines, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, National Guard and especially my daddy, veteran of the Air Force for their incredible sacrifices and service to our great nation. May God continue to bless, keep, strengthen and honor you with peace, joy and love in every area of your life.
Arthur Jackson
Retired First Deputy Chief of Police, Cook County Sheriff’s Police
Veteran, United States Air Force
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