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Article Archive |
2008
Thank You, Lord
by Jim Morris
Something caught the young medic's attention. Was it a faint sound or a movement? He could not tell. Countless men lay on stretchers outside of the surgeon's tent. Many were writhing in anguish and pain. Many more lay still and silent. All of the soldiers that lay on the ground where the medic passed, though, were either dead or too far beyond hope.
Meanwhile, a young soldier lay motionless, unable to move or respond. A rifle bullet had lodged itself in his spine and grenade fragments had peppered his body from head to toe during the night's fire fight. He felt no pain though his body was torn to pieces and he was already turning blue. He saw the medic pull the blanket over his face while calling out to someone else, “This one's gone.” Then the soldier prayed, “Dear Jesus, help me.”
There it was again. This time the medic saw the blanket being flung off the face of the soldier. Then the medic called out urgently, “This one's still alive but he needs help quick!”
Medics swarmed over the soldier and rushed him into surgery. Everything blurred as the soldier prayed again, “Thank you, Lord.” Then he passed out with his life in the hands of God and the physician.
The soldier made it through the surgery. His part in WWII was now over. He had lost many friends but God had given him another chance to live. He went on to marry and raise a family. He spent the rest of his life teaching his kids about the importance of doing what is right. He taught them that God is good and merciful. He taught them to be thankful.
If that young soldier had died then I would not be here to tell this story. He was my dad, Sergeant James P. Morris, Sr., 82nd Airborne, U.S. Army.
Please remember those who have sacrificed so much to protect our country against evil aggression. We should be thankful for the sacrifices they have made on our behalf. We should be thankful for a God who sees our hearts and who hears our prayers. We should be thankful for Jesus. After all, our very lives rest in the mighty hands of God, the Great Physician.
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men — the testimony given in its proper time” (1 Timothy 2:1-6).
11-26-08
# 48
