Worth It
I once met a Warrior who changed my outlook on life. He was injured overseas and had damage to his face that cannot be repaired. Never again will he see the beauty of the world around him. I pray that his memories are filled with beauty, not the horrible things he saw in the war.
As the day I had with him grew long, he impacted me over and over again. His zest for life, his positive attitude and his ethic were impenetrable. And humbling.
That evening I had the opportunity to thank him for his service, and the sacrifices he made that insure we live in freedom and have the lives we choose to have. What he said to me was, "You're worth it."
That was several years ago and I can vividly remember how I felt when he said that to me- "You're worth it."
Stunned. Ashamed. Exhilarated. Awed. I had no words to reply back to him. I just stood there as waves of feelings and thoughts blew through me.
Imagine giving your life for millions of people you don't even know. Leaving your family, your home, your country and going to a place you have never been, only to have to protect yourself and hundreds, thousands of others. Every breath could be your last. Every sound could be someone trying to take your life. Eventually having an injury that would have surely killed you, but leaves you with your memories, your thoughts, but no way to ever see again. Coming home caused ridicule, anger and betrayal. However, when told "thank you", he was gracious and merciful enough to say, "You're worth it" to someone he had "known" for less than 12 hours.
Why do you think that made such a powerful impression?
Sound like someone else?
Sounds just like someone else to me. Someone who I want to be more like. Someone who humbles me daily.
The fact that a king gave everything to come to this world, suffer ridicule, betrayal, punishment, being spat upon and hung on a cross for me...hundreds of years before I was even born, gives me those same feelings. Each person who yelled, cursed, stoned, and dishonored Jesus was someone He loved.
It still happens today. Amazingly, with all the believers and technology we have, it seems there are less and less Christians than before.
Each morning when I sit and watch the sun come up, and think of all the things I'm thankful for, I'm amazed again at what Christ did for me and how He blesses me more than I will ever deserve. He thinks I'm worth it. He thinks you're worth it too. Knowing that makes me want to live like I deserve it.
Mike didn't let Afghanistan take his life; he turned it into a life lived full and impactfully. Don't let Satan take yours.
II Corinthians 5: 15-21 KJV "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again...(17) ...all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ,...(20) ...be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
"I know not why God's wondrous grace To me He hath made known, Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love Redeemed me for His own. But "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able To keep that which I've committed Unto Him against that day."
~ Baptist Hymnal
