Reverence
and the Flag*
Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6
As the Color Guard marched in the
parade, Chet, a retired Air Force pilot, was saddened by how many
people remained seated, with hats on their heads as the American flag
passed by. The men and women from his generation would never show
such a lack of respect and blatant disregard for their country’s
flag and the sacrifice it represented. These people seemed
indifferent about the freedom they enjoyed and took for granted. Chet
had lost friends and comrades in WWII, and how or why these
succeeding generations failed to honor and respect such sacrifice was
beyond his comprehension.
As they proceeded, Chet’s eye caught
a small boy suddenly stand to attention, salute the men and the flag,
and hold his salute! With a tear sliding down his cheek, Chet
returned the prescribed military gesture, realizing, There is
still hope that what we’ve done will not be forgotten or taken for
granted.
†
The right for Americans to arbitrarily
snub their nose at their Nation’s flag has been paid for with the
blood and sacrifice of brave men and women, and their families,
who've given of themselves, building upon the foundation which
others have continued to build, knowing that freedom comes at a
price.
This Nation was founded by fearless men
and women who stood on godly principles which, when not adhered to,
breed ignorance and disrespect. By failing to pass along a sense of
duty, honor, and self-sacrifice, we have lost who we are and how we
arrived at this moment in history.
It is, therefore, our responsibility to
train and nurture each succeeding generation, teaching them to
cherish the freedom they enjoy, and help them understand that it is a
precious commodity. This applies to our spiritual heritage as
well.
If Jesus were to walk by would our
children remain seated on the curb, or would they stand in reverence
and honor, recognizing the sacrifice He made to set them free?
Prayer
“Father of our freedom,
we thank and give You honor. May we never lose sight of the sacrifice
for our freedom, and may we never fail to pass on the importance of
the price that was paid. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
*Dedicated to and in memory of Chester
Miller, a good friend and good man
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