Service that Deserves Thanks
Chaplain Bill Wolfe
Llano County Sheriff’s Department
Hi and thanks for joining me one more time. Duty, Honor, Courage, Valor. Welcome to War Stor…I mean the November edition of The Chaplain’s Corner. November brings us elections and holidays. (Opening day of “Deer Season” would be a national holiday in Texas if it didn’t come on Saturday.) I’d like to spend a few minutes tying the two November holidays together – Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving – by doing some giving of my thanks.
Duty, Honor, Courage, Valor. Some of you undoubtedly recognize the “theme words” from the TV show War Stories and know the operative phrase “theirs is a story that deserves to be told.” Let me modify that phrase a little: Theirs is a service that deserves to be recognized and given a big Thank You. Each day that passes we lose a few more veterans of all the conflicts from WW II forward. On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to say to each of you veterans, 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.” Our way of life would be so different if it weren’t for your answering the call. (And all the Wolfes stand up and wave American flags.)
I know too, that there are veterans that have come home and pinned on a badge or grabbed a medical bag and serve in yet another capacity. You rank especially high on my list of heroes.
Duty, Honor, Courage, Valor. These terms also fit other heroes that I want to thank as well. As I have said before: whether you respond in a Crown Vic, a SWAT van, fire truck, med-evac chopper or ambulance, or work undercover, you – my fellow servants in the emergency services fields – are heroes too. You are the everyday heroes that we can’t do without. I know it’s not the same as media or other publicly expressed appreciation, but you all have my family’s admiration and our thanks for serving in the way you do. (And all the Wolfes wave their flags again.)
As we appreciate those who served and made it home from their last hitch or shift, we also appreciate those who did not, and we extended heart-felt condolences to their family, friends and colleagues.
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 served. I ask Lord, that this year, at this season, You might bless them with expressions of appreciation when they least expect it. 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 elsewhere. 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.
Blessings to you and yours. See you again next month.
Chaplain Bill
llanochaps@moment.net
