I heartily agree with all the words of gratitude I have seen posted on facebook today, but as Veteran’s Day is coming to a close, I can’t help but think that words are not enough. While expressing thankfulness for their service is kind, some veterans have mentioned to me that the words “Thank you for serving!” can sometimes trigger internal responses such as “You don’t have a clue about what I’ve gone through or the price I have paid!”
A simple “Thank you!” is like depositing pennies toward a million-dollar debt. Thank you won’t erase the horrors of war. Thank you does not calm troubled minds or stop night terrors. Thank you does not heal PTSD or regenerate broken and marred bodies. Thank you does not restore marriages that were torn apart from months or even years of separation. Thank you does not give back the missed milestones-unattended births, first steps, Birthdays, Christmases Thanksgivings and Easters. Thank you does not magically place missing faces in the photos of family gatherings and celebratory moments. Although often appreciated, thank you is not nearly enough.
Although we cannot heal hearts, mend bodies, erase memories, restore relationships, or turn back the hands of time, I believe we can offer our military personnel and veterans much more than just words of gratitude. James 1:22 instructs us to be doers of the word; not just hearers. Mark 12:31 mentions that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. So how do these scriptures relate to thanking veterans for serving our country?
Love in action
- Pray-Battles are fought in the heavenly realms. If you and I spend a few minutes a day praying for active military and veterans I believe we will see big results. We can also ask military members or veterans if they would like us to pray for them or with them. If not, each time we thank a vet we can also offer up a silent prayer.
- Share the love of the Lord-Everyone needs Jesus! The Lord is the only one who can truly heal brokenness and give hope to the hopeless. Sharing God’s goodness and hope through Jesus transforms lives.
- Listen-Listening says “I care and you matter” . Even before my youngest son joined the military he would engage veterans in conversations, then sit with them and just listen. Some veterans might not be open to talking about their military experiences, but everyone needs someone to invest their time and heart and to listen to what they have to say.
- Be informed-This morning, I read an article stating that the US Department of Housing and Development estimates that over 40,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Forty-one percent are between the ages of 31 and 50, and Almost 50% of all homeless Veterans served in Vietnam. A Washington Post article from September of this year mentions that 325 active duty service members committed suicide in 2018, and a December 2018 article in the New York Times talks about the rise of suicide (20 a day) among veterans as being at an all-time high-especially among those who have served during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These statistics are not just alarming; they are heartbreaking.
- Get Involved-There are many ministries that are reaching out to military personnel and their families. Whether it is feeding the homeless, starting or participating in veterans’ support groups, or adopting a military family or veteran, you can make a difference. Ask the Lord how you can put love into action. If you are unable to give your time, you can still give of your resources. If you Google ministries to veterans a whole list will come up.
- Vote-The past twenty years I have met many veterans who have not been able to get proper medical care. You and I can make a difference by supporting legislation that provides necessary assistance, medical care, and counseling to Veterans.
A short while ago, a friend remarked when thanking vets she sometimes hears, “Well I wasn’t in any battles so I didn’t do anything.” Her insight just confirms to me that the greatest war for many Veterans is the war they are fighting within their souls, which is all the more reason why we need to thank our veterans with our actions as well as with our words.
May you be abundantly blessed!
Jeannie
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans nchv.org/index.php/news/media/background_and_statistics/
http://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/us/veterans-suicide-prevention.html
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