It Broke My Heart
I was blessed in the last few days to watch two of my children participate in programs honoring our Veterans. At each, there was a section of time dedicated to recognizing veterans according to the time in which they served. This was the first year I can remember when there were no representatives for World War 2.
It broke my heart.
I appreciate and honor all of our military service people in America, but the veterans of World War 2 hold a special place in my heart. I guess it’s because all 4 of my own grandparents had such special stories of how they served, both in the military and out, both foreign and domestic. Maybe I just have a soft spot for honorable older gentlemen and ladies. For whatever reason, it broke my heart.
And then it hit me. This was just another indicator in life that time truly is ever “marching on.” I know we see that as we watch our children grow and our hair turn gray. We feel it in the frenzy to complete one season’s activities before the next are upon us. But do we understand the urgency implied?
According to one website, 348 WW2 veterans die every day. That is 348 souls whose eternal destiny is decided each day. And that is just one small segment of the worldwide population. According to the World Health Organization, over 5,000 people die daily from tuberculosis, 830 women from complications in childbirth, and more than 30,000 die from preventable communicable diseases. All of these people represent souls. Souls who need Jesus.
And the ones who don’t know Him … that breaks His heart.
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Matthew 12:37-39
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AUTHOR: Amber Tatum
