Yesterday at our Rotary Club meeting in Arlington I was moved as I considered the cost of Freedom. We remembered our veterans who have served our country through the military. Yesterday was my dad’s birthday. He would have been 90 but has been home with the Lord since May of 2001. My dad served in the Pacific Theater in World War II before he married my mother. Dad served our country well, but came back home emotionally scarred. Many veterans and those currently serving our country suffer from Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder (PTSD). My dad experienced flashbacks and would often wake us up in the middle of the night with shouts from nightmares he experienced. He experienced moments of anxiety (manic attacks) and deep valleys of depression to the point of suicide attempts. Our family went through many episodes with Dad because there was a price that he paid in serving our country.
I have a new appreciation for the cost of Freedom in our country. I not only appreciate the sacrifice of those who have fallen in battle to preserve our freedom, but also those who have sacrificed their lives in many other ways that continue to linger. The cost of Freedom comes with blood, sweat, tears, and much sacrifice on the part of soldiers and their families. My heart and deep felt appreciation goes out to them today.
But also I thank God for the price He paid through the death of Christ on the cross for my sin today. Because of Christ’s sacrifice I can experience freedom from sin, death, and the power of the devil. I have an eternal inheritance because of the blood He shed for me on Calvary. I owe Christ my life and all that I am because He purchased me with His precious blood.
The cost of Freedom is high in our country and in our spiritual lives. I remember with tears and a grateful heart my Lord, my dad, and those who have sacrificed for me.
