We are entering the holiday season in this country. This season is a very special time for Americans. Shopping has already started and the stores are playing their Christmas music to get us in the buying mood. No greater gift can a man give than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends. This gift was given to mankind in the form of the only begotton son of God coming down to earth and dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our being seperated from God and to make a way for us to be reconnected to him. Because of this gift we can enjoy the benefit of eternal life, or an eternal connection with God.
Now there are others who have given all. Their deaths do not spiritually reconnect us but we do owe them a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices that they have made for us. Some gave all but all gave some. The first thing that we need to remember and celebrate this holiday season is the price that Jesus Christ paid for us on the cross. We also need to remember that we have the freedom to enjoy our gifts, and freedom here in the natural realm largely because of the sacrifices that our fighting men and women have made for us. Remember that when you are sitting in front of your fireplace warming your feet and eating a turkey sandwich that there are troops right now sitting out in sub zero weather somewhere in Korea or the Middle East observing the area for enemy intruders and any other strange activity.
There are troops sitting in foxholes manning machine guns who cant turn on a light or light a fire because the light would give their position away. There are troops going through rehearsals to thwart the attack which intelligence has predicted will come in a certain way. They will rehearse every possible way that they can anticipate the attack will come. They will go through they motions time and time again.
Some of our troops will get to eat turkey dinners over the holidays but some of them will eat MREs as usual and many of them wont get any food at all on Thanksgiving or Christmas. They may get something when they get back to the base camp but it wont be anything like what you will be eating at home. You had better believe that.
Our troops in Korea are probably on full alert right now because of the high tensions in the area. The war might come at any time they dont know but they must remain vigilant. They wont be caught off guard but they will look past this holiday season and hope that they will be home with their loved ones the next season. They dont like the fact that they are where they are but they will do their jobs to the best of their abilities and hope for better times. War doesnt stop just because the weather is freezing cold or wet and muddy. You just deal with the wet cold weather and drive on.
Our troops who are stationed in non Christian countries cant freely practice their religious beliefs because the host nations may be offended. They will be punished by the military if they do because the US esteems politics more important that serving God.
Many of our troops will miss many holiday seasons with their families because of deployments but they wont hesitate to do what they have to do. So when you are enjoying this holiday season you need to thank our military for the sacrifices that they have made for you.
Riceland Enterprises
