Grateful Memorial Day

There is nothing like walking in the door after being gone two weeks and having two happy dogs greet you. After that wonderful hello, and all the unpacking done, the next most wonderful moment was settling into my favorite comfortable chair, which no hotel chair can hope to match. And the third most wonderful moment was ordering pizza so the weary travelers didn't have to cook. Ah home!!

On my last 5 mile run of my travels yesterday morning, the city was very quiet. I was out early, and being the capitol, it apparently shuts down on Sundays. But there was one interesting event that no one but me saw. As I ran down an otherwise empty street, I came alongside an ambulance with flashing lights stopped on the curb. An ambulance medic loaded a homeless man onto a gurney and then into the ambulance. I don't know what was wrong with him, but it occured to me that he would get to sleep a while in a comfortable bed, and what a blessing that would be.  As the medic closed the ambulance door, he called out to the police officer nearby, presumably the one who had found him, "He says,'Thank you.'" The cop smiled and shook his head, with a bemused look on his face.

How considerate of the homeless man, I thought. He had to be in bad shape in order to be carted off in an ambulance. Yet, he had the wherewithal and the courtesy to thank the cop who had called the ambulance. I would be going home in a few short hours. That poor man had no home, but for the moment, he was cared for under clean sheets and on a soft mattress.

What do I have to complain about....ever????

The ambulance pulled away, with flashing lights, but no siren. The man must not be in terribly bad shape or the ambulance would have raced away with sirens blazing. I ran on, thinking how lucky I was to be strong enough to run, with the promise of a home to run to. It is so easy to be caught up in our petty worries when there are people with truly horrendous circumstances all around us. I wondered how long the homeless man would be fed and cared for in the hospital before being returned to the cold, hard streets.

There are lots of pictures on the internet today of men who have served to fight for our freedom. Many of the photos are of people who have lost limbs, loved ones, or lives in their selfless service for me. It is a picture of Jesus here on earth, giving all so I may live.

Lord, forgive me for my selfishness, my self-absorption, my complaining over trifles. Life and death battles are being waged all around me. Give me a heart that yearns to heal others' pain, and pays less attention to my own.

I think rather than saying "Happy" Memorial Day, we should say "Grateful" Memorial Day, as we thank God for the homes secured for us by those who will never return home.

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Ephesians 4:32 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Galatians 6:2

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Colossians 3:12 

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Matthew 7:12 

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Luke 10:30-35 

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Matthew 9:36-38 

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.