…they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13).
I just watched the most touching video of a former U.S. President and his wife welcoming home America’s heroes. As these valiant men and women emerged from the jet way to the cheers of their appreciative fellow citizens, their faces registered various degrees of surprise and humility to realize that a former Commander-in-Chief stood among the crowd, waiting to express his gratitude. It’s impossible to view that recorded scene and not be moved to tears.
And yet…have you considered the scene in heaven when heroes of the faith—not just the blessed martyrs but all of us who consider ourselves strangers and pilgrims here on earth—finally step forth from that “jet way” that transports us from our temporal existence to our eternal one, only to see the Father waiting to greet us? I don’t know about you, but because I know me so well, I don’t feel like much of a hero most of the time. But because my true Hero has already gone before me, paying an unthinkable price so that I might one day make that grand entrance into heaven, I too can anticipate a hero’s welcome when I breathe my last and am set free from the tenuous strings that bind me to earth. Oh, how we will soar when that final string is severed and we are loosed into the eternal joys of being in the Father’s presence! Our greatest joy on earth can’t begin to compare to that eternal burst of gratitude that will carry us into God’s presence.
The next time you have an opportunity to welcome home some returning heroes, rejoice that you can be a part of it and shout your gratitude from the rooftops—but know that the joy you feel at that moment doesn’t begin to compare to that which will envelop you when you yourself are at last welcomed home as a hero of the faith!
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My brother is my hero. He's served three tours in Iraq and is the father of two beautiful little girls. He's my hero because, even when the enemy was firing at him, and he watched his friends burn in a fire he couldn't protect them from because of enemy fire, he still continued fighting. He didn't give up and he didn't let hatred rule him. He has gone through a season of questioning God, but he is still a man of faith. And for that, he is my hero.
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After my Lord and Savior, my hubby Chuck is my hero. He endured the Viet Nam War and was shunned upon his return to the U.S.; never getting close to a hero's welcome. So that's why I try, every Veteran's Day, to be especially appreciative of him and shower him with lots of his favorites.
ReplyDeleteThose are so incredible, girls.
ReplyDeleteKathy, I'm not entering for one of the books, cause I've already gotten two, but what an incredible post!
I can't wait till that day!!!!
Oh what a day that will be...
When our son David came back home from his second tour in Iraq we all gathered in a gym for the ceremony. If you can imagine a pep ralley like in high school that is what it is like. Banners and posters are every where, people sitting on the bleachers in a gym, a DJ playing peppy music like "YMCA" or "Macho Man". We are given updates on the soldiers arrival and when they will be arriving. The anticipation is energizing and the volume of the cheers are deafening. When the soldiers are finally marched in to the gym there is a final formation, then we the families were given the pleasure of saying loudly "dismissed". Then there is the moment when our son is in our presence, living and breathing presence, hugs and kisses are given, and finally a sigh of relief. I took a step back and watched the other families as they responded to one another, the kisses between husbands and wives were not of a romantic nature but something deeper. Fathers holding their children, maybe for the first time. And then I knew, God had given me a glimpse of how it will be when we are finally home, home in heaven with Jesus. What a precious gift.
ReplyDeleteAll of the praise and all of the honor and all of the glory belongs to Him alone.
Just wanted to say, I have missed reading your blog & I am starting to cut out "stuff" of the world to make time for things of heaven... which includes reading your blog. The mom's ministry leaders have been passing your books around & they LOVE them!! Praying you are well!!
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