Thankful: November 11th

8 Comments

1. I am grateful that I am an American. I truly believe that America is the greatest country with the most advantaged citizens.

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2. Brandy, I am thankful for our military as well. I think often of our soldiers in far away places, but I think equally as often about the families that stay behind and do without their loved ones near. A true sacrifice.
   I am thankful for your blog as well. It is absolutely beautiful. You have inspired me so much. You have added much to my home, from using my homegrown basil for pesto, to fitting in a meal of beans for the sake of frugality to the zinnias growing in my front yard. I actually went to Wildseed Farms and purchased my zinnia seeds-beautiful place! I also planted beets and lettuce in my front yard this year! Thanks for the inspiration.

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3. I am thankful for my husbands job and his willingness to work hard for our family, allowing me to stay home with our children . I feel I never had to miss any of their special moments all these years due to his hard work .

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4. I am thankful that we were able to attend a program at our kids school honoring the veterans. Out 16 yo is in the band and choir. They did a great job!! I like seeing the children being taught to honor and respect the soldiers. There were many older veterans there as well as a few “kids” who joined the military after graduating in the past few years. Several of the teachers are former military. Thank you to them all.

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5. I am also grateful for our freedoms, & for those who gave their lives that we might have them.

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6. I am grateful for our freedoms and the men and women, past and present, who have given so much to provide them. Mary is correct that it is very hard on the families left behind, as well.

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7. Today we visited the Holocaust Museum. I am thankful to those who suffered such horrible atrocities at the hands of others were willing to share their stories so that future generations could learn and appreciate why we should never ever forget the evils inflicted on them. I am thankful to the soldiers from all countries who fought so bravely and were able to liberate the concentration camps, freeing them from the shear hell they were forced to live in. I am thankful those who did survive were able to honor those who didn’t in their own personal way. Your losses were tremendous and my heart weeps for you.

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8. I’m not a terribly patriotic person. Rememberance Day fills me with an overwhelming sorrow for the futility of war; and heartache for boys who were too young to really understand what they were signing up for. And so instead I remember the words of Rudyard Kipling:

   The tumult and the shouting dies—
   The Captains and the Kings depart—
   Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
   An humble and a contrite heart.

   All this week I’ve been working on a Christmas essay for a friend. As I read the New Testament story, and various commentary on it from a wide number of religious denominations – protestant, Catholic, LDS, Jewish, Muslim – I am filled with a deep and abiding gratitude for that ancient sacrifice. I see through a glass darkly – but even these small glimpses fill me with awe. And so with Rudyard Kipling I sing:

   Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet; Judge of the Nations, spare us yet; Lest we forget, lest we forget.

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