A day for us to honor all who have served. I am always very proud of my military family and friends on veterans' day but especially think of those who sacrificed it all. I didn't even know what it meant for them to sacrifice it all until I saw Austin leave his wife and one year son behind, only praying he'd return safely. These men and women truly lay everything down to serve, and it is by God's grace that they may come home.
But this year Austin gave me a new perspective and appreciation. In our small group we've been studying the book of Philippians. Well, we missed all of chapter 1 but were there for the rest. Last week we had a synopsis week - we just went over it all again and we each talked about what spoke to us the most. It's still amazing to me how the words in the bible can mean something completely different to each reader.
Austin said what hit him the most was when Paul talked about being content in all things. In Philippians 4 he mentions that he knows what it means to have everything and he knows what it means to have nothing; he knows what it is to be hungry and he knows what it is to be full. Austin said that struck him so much because he, too, knows what it is to have nothing and to have everything.
He went on to share (yes...Austin...verbally shared. Amazing!) what it was like at times to go days without food or shelter or showers. He said he truly felt he had gone to hell and he had nothing. then the day he came home he suddenly had everything. In all of that he said he had to learn, for mere survival, how to be content despite the circumstances.
What a perspective. Not many people are able to truly see the two extremes and to understand where Paul was coming from, but our service men and women have seen it all and somehow managed to make it through with a servants' heart.
I hope you can take a minute to think of these people who have laid it all down and be thankful. We are fortunate enough to not know what it's like to go hungry, and yet our service members make the choice to step into that on our behalf. They are true heroes, and I'm so lucky to have four of them in my family.
Thank you Brian, Jesse, Chris and Austin for your selfless service. And thank you to the rest of the men and women who have made the same sacrifice.
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