This morning, I, along with millions of other Americans, woke up in the comfort and safety of an American home. As I came downstairs and glanced at my Bible on the kitchen table, I had no fear of being arrested for contraband, even though owning a Bible is against the law in multiple countries across the globe.
As I reflect on Veterans Day, I’m mindful of the men and women who have lost life and limb to secure our freedom. Countless American children woke up this morning with a parent serving abroad. These families make sacrifices most of us can’t comprehend. When our country celebrates Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks, our military families will have empty chairs at their dinner tables.
When contemplating Veterans Day, my thoughts drift to foreign soil and those who don’t enjoy the same freedoms that we Americans do.
- I think of the 273 Nigerian girls who were kidnapped from their school on April 14, 2014, by Boko Haram. Fifty-seven have escaped and twenty-one were released last month. Many came home with children fathered by their captors. Two hundred more remain in captivity and their government is unable to bring them home.
- I think of the Syrian Refugees seeking shelter after being run out of their villages by ISIS. They’ve watched as their loved ones were brutally slaughtered and their daughters were taken captive by sexual predators. They’ve been left to wander from place to place looking for their next meal. They no longer have a place to call home.
- I think of the millions of women and young girls who are being held against their will by sex traffickers and forced into a life of degrading exploitation.
- I think of my brothers and sisters in Christ living in the Middle East. I read reports of them bravely sneaking under cover of night to dimly lit basements to study the Word of God and pray. They feel fortunate if one person in their community owns a Bible that can be shared.
- I think of the millions of young girls who don’t have the opportunity to get an education because their government doesn’t allow female citizens to go to school.
As Americans, these are stories we read about but haven’t experienced on domestic soil. We enjoy these privileges and our freedom because of the courage of the men and women in the United States military. Our freedom is a result of their continual sacrifice, and every American is in their debt. American culture puts a nauseatingly high premium on entertainers, glamor, and wealth. But let’s never forget our national security is not the result of celebrities, politicians, or CEOs. It is the men and women in our military who keep us safe.
As we celebrate Veterans Day, let’s pause and give thanks to God for the privileges we too often take for granted. Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ living in the circumstances we can’t imagine. Let’s give thanks for the men and women who serve this country. Let’s ask God to bless them and their families. And let’s pray God will restore our nation.
