Remembrance Day

My thoughts wander back to stories shared by my Dad of World War II.

Stories of horror – stories of hope;

Stories of lives lost and stories of amazing survivals.

And while there is no way that I can possibly understand what it was like

through simple words  and unembellished tales

my heart pieces together a time when young life was laid down

and sacrifice was made.

Meanwhile on the other side of the world my mother wrote letters to the one she loved.

Thousands of letters of hope and encouragement.

A scarlet thread of love keeping them both going

not knowing how it would all end and if they would ever share a life together.

Overshadowed by His Wing

kept

protected

provided for.

Known by the Heavenly Father and one day known to me as Daddy.

Stories of the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944-January 1945

the surprise attack by the Germans

the loss of so many lives and a life saved.

My Dad’s.

Glorious shining moments.

No, I can’t imagine living through all the horrors of war

and as I listen to those stories of long ago and my daughters hear

I almost fear not realizing enough how great was the sacrifice, the cost.

Remembering again the Great Sacrifice of all

when His life was crucified so that we might live.

Blood stained soil from which life would come.

“Greater love has no man than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

May we never forget the cost.

After the war

a marriage and eventually four children

precious lives that might not have been. Chapters and chapters of life for which I’m grateful.

So on this Remembrance Day and always

let’s never forget the price that was paid for our freedom.