Morning Devotional
May 29, 2005
"Memorial Day, 2005" 
    by Don Emmitte

I always thank God when I pray for you, Philemon, because I keep hearing of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people. You are generous because of your faith. And I am praying that you will really put your generosity to work, for in so doing you will come to an understanding of all the good things we can do for Christ. I myself have gained much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because your kindness has so often refreshed the hearts of God's people. (Philemon 1:4-7 NLT).

 

Amidst the confusion and controversy of modern conflicts, you may wonder: Can America get involved in a war without doing more harm than good? Of course we can, but there is no easy answer to the problems in other parts of the world nor is there ever an easy war. The upcoming Memorial Day represents a poignant reminder that conflicts and war though unavoidable also present electrifying opportunities to experience God’s amazing love and old-fashioned human kindness. 

 

If you visit a certain museum in Eindhoven, Holland you may notice aerial photographs taken on the day American paratroopers liberated the city from the Germans in 1944. The fascinating story of how those photographs came to the museum is an amazing series of coincidences that shows how kindness can stretch across continents and even cultures. “Skee” Ramsey, tells a wonderful story of her daughter Katherine who was given the opportunity to tour Europe with a concert band. In Holland, she stayed with a couple in Bergeyk. A friendship developed and the two families kept in touch regularly. When Katherine went back to Europe to continue her college studies, this same Dutch family went out of their way to pick her up at the airport and drive her safely to the University in Belgium.

 

Several years later, the same family visited the United States and stayed with their American friends. At one point, “Skee” began to thank them for taking such loving care of their daughter. The husband replied, “I have always felt that if I ever had the chance to do anything for an American, I would do it.” He went on to describe one special day in 1944 when he and his father went up to the roof of their house in Eindhoven to watch the 101st Airborne of the United States Army drop from the sky in parachutes and special gliders. The boy turned to his dad and asked: “Are the Germans leaving?” The father replied, “No son, the Americans are coming.” A relative of “Skee’s” who served as an Intelligence Officer during the war and helped to plan the campaign that liberated the Netherlands, heard the story of the grateful Dutch family and began looking through his old souvenirs. He found several aerial reconnaissance photographs of Eindhoven that were made that day even detailing some of the gliders used by the paratroopers. The photographs were given to the couple who then donated them to a local museum.  

 

Can you imagine having the opportunity to witness the stunning rescue of your countrymen and your family? Because of this awe-inspiring moment, a Dutch couple would forever look for opportunities to show kindness to America, a nation that sent the very best of its population oversees to rescue others from tyranny! No wonder celebrating Memorial Day is so significant! Memorial Day is a vivid reminder of the times when our country bravely met the challenge to fight and refused to bury its collective head in the sand. Good men and women died for our country and it is a day to remember their sacrifices. Like most citizens, our country’s involvement in Iraq concerns me. The story of a grateful Dutch couple in Holland will forever remind me that sometimes the kindest thing we can do is fight.

 

Paul’s letter to Philemon tells a little about that kind of act. The definitive act of kindness is to trust God enough and love God’s people enough to be willing to sacrifice everything… even your life. Few can claim that sort of courage without the supernatural love of God. Maybe that is why we so desperately need to pray!