Chaplain Bill Wolfe
Llano County Sheriff’s Department
"Two birds, Pete and Repeat, sat on a wire. Pete flew off and who was left?"
"Repeat." "Ok. "Two birds, Pete and Repeat, sat on a wire. Pete flew off and who was left?" Hi, and thanks for joining me one more time in the November edition of The Chaplain’s Corner. Anybody want to admit to knowing/using that little never ending question? ☺ It just popped to mind as I reviewed past November columns looking at what I’ve shared in the past. In the interest of starting with Scripture, allow me to borrow a few words from the Apostle Paul: "To write the same things again is no trouble to me." (Phil 3:1)
The two November holidays, Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving, are soon upon us again, and I wanted to take this seasonally-appropriate time to say thank you again to the veterans among us.
Being that we live "out in the sticks" we don’t get live TV. So, we are "reduced" to watching tapes and DVDs. For the past week or so Claudia and I have been watching the PBS series "The War" that our daughter recorded for us. My dad served in The War, but he almost never talked about it - just one story that I remember about accidentally kicking a live artillery shell down a stairwell at night in Aachen, Germany, and one about a German pilot trying to drop a bomb on him on Christmas morning. Watching the series gave me some fresh insight on why. It gave me a renewed appreciation of what you folks went through "over there" - wherever "over there" was.
On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to again say to each of you veterans, former POWs, reservists, and active duty military, regardless of what branch of service, what Theater of Operations, what war: "Thank you for your service to our Country. We appreciate what you have done and are doing."
I know too, that there are veterans that have come home and pinned on a badge and serve in yet another capacity. You rank especially high on my list of heroes. Thank you, also, for your service to our Country and your communities.
As we appreciate those who served and made it home from their last hitch or shift, we also appreciate those who did not. ODMP.org lists 20 Texas officers (as of this writing) whose watch ended this year. We extend our heart-felt condolences to their family, friends and colleagues. Thank you for sharing them with us.
The first Thanksgiving was all about giving God thanks for His blessings. When Thanksgiving was made a national holiday, it was for the same purpose.to set aside a time specifically for giving thanks to God. Yes, my friends, both military and emergency services personnel, you are a blessing from God to our Country and your communities. Let’s take a minute more and let me give Him thanks for giving you to us.
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You right now giving You thanks for all these who have given of themselves to serve this Country and their communities. Too often they have received wounds, not only from the enemy, but from those they serve. I ask, Lord, that You might bless them in special and unexpected ways. Help them to continue serving to the best of their ability in the positions they fill, even if it’s only being a Grandparent. I pray for those on active duty on the streets or in the military and ask that You would grant them Divine protection. Give them wisdom, courage and understanding beyond their natural abilities. I lift up those who have been injured physically or mentally in the performance of their duties and have need of healing. I pray too for the friends and loved ones that have been deprived of that son or daughter, spouse or sibling, neighbor or friend by a line-of-duty death here at home or overseas. Bring a comfort to them as only You can. And I thank You for giving me the opportunity to serve these, my readers. Help me to be the encouragement they need, that I might be a blessing to them. Continue to give me Your thoughts and words to inspire and guide them. Amen.
Before I let you go, I want to say "thank you" to all my loyal readers for riding with me these 6½ short years. ☺ I was blessed to be able to attend Det. Moreno’s funeral in San Antonio in September. While I was there, a Police Chief that I had never met came up and spoke with me saying he’d read my column for years. That was a blessing. "One more," and I’ll let you go. I also want to extend a special thank you to any Patriot Guard riders who may be here. I appreciate what your group does.
Blessings to you and yours. See you again next month.
Chaplain Bill
llanochaps@moment.net
