Freedom is worth the sacrifice!

The year was 1944.  His message was short but held all the love he felt.  “My Dearest Wife and Children, Merry Christmas.  I miss you.  Chancy”  He was part of the “Greatest Generation;” a generation that left their wives, children, parents, and other loved ones to fight a terrible evil.  They knew full well the risk they were taking.  They knew that many would not return to see their children grow up.  They knew that any moment could be their last.  Still they marched on, pushing the enemy back and liberating town after town.  They knew the consequence would be horrific if they gave up.  They couldn’t let that evil flood the world so they sacrificed everything they had, sometimes their very lives, to stop it. 

My grandpa came home from the war but so many of his friends didn’t.  With the rest of the country he mourned the loss.  “Oh my friends, my friends forgive me That I live and you are gone.  There’s a grief that can’t be spoken.  There’s a pain goes on and on” (Les Miserables).  Yet he knew that their sacrifice was not in vain.  Good triumphed and freedom prevailed.  The price of that freedom was sealed with their blood. 

What lessons can the Greatest Generation teach us?  What can we learn from their sacrifice?  What hope can they instill?  What light can they give us in a world that feels so dark and alone?  What would they say to us today if they were here?

“Never give up!  Don’t you ever give up!  The way may be dark but there is light up ahead.  Keep on marching.  Keep on fighting.  Endure to the end.  Freedom is worth the sacrifice!”

Gratitude

November is the month of gratitude and thanksgiving.  Facebook is filled with people listing daily things they are grateful for.  In the past, I joined in this tradition but this year I’ve remained silent.  It’s not that I’m not grateful but I’ve been so caught up with life that I find myself on my knees “asking” instead of “thanking.”  I’m starting to feel like a little kid asking her daddy for help with everything. 

Life is busy and never ending with 5 kids.  There are doctor visits, orthodontic visits, and driving to and from scouts and gymnastics and an array of many activities.  The laundry only takes hours to complete.  I’m exhausted just thinking about it.  I find myself pleading for strength and stamina to get through my day.  My need for blessings and help from my Heavenly Father always come first.

Tonight as I was scrolling through Facebook, I noticed a post from The Busy Mom about some advice her mother-in-law gave her.  She said, “Praise instead of pray.  Praying takes a sort of energy that I don’t have right now.  Praising, on the other hand, requires nothing of me except a thankful heart” (https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/busyhomeschoolmom).  Thomas S Monson said, “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven.”

I still have needs and require help.  I’m still that little girl crying to her Heavenly Father to lift her up and sustain her during hard times.  Life is hard and anyone who says differently isn’t living it right or is trying to sell you something.  But instead of focusing on my needs (of which there seems to be plenty to go around,) I’m going to be grateful for my blessing and praise my Father in Heaven who endowed me with those blessings. 

The help will come, of that I am sure.  God is in His heaven and He is in control.  I praise Him for His tender mercies and loving kindness.  I thank Him for the infinite Atonement of Christ, which is far greater and more vast than just a forgiveness of our sins.  I thank Him for love; love of my husband, love of my children, love of my parents and siblings, love of friends, love that sustains me and lifts me up higher than I can go on my own.