Daily Devotional

May 24th, 2024
by Karon Cecy

First Responders

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

Romans 12:9 - “…give preference to one another in honor…”

I come from a long line of First Responders:

My grandfather on my father’s side was in World War I
My grandfather was also a Fire Chief.
My father was a medic in World War II and was at Normandy.
My father was an ambulance driver.
My father was a lieutenant and a Chief of Detectives in the Sheriff’s Department.
My uncle was a Chief of Police.
My husband is a Navy Vietnam War veteran, having served on an aircraft carrier.
My husband’s brothers also served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.

Since 9/11 we have been keen on expressing our gratefulness to active members and veterans of our military as well as first responders—police, fire and emergency services. Let’s do it more often. “Thank you for your service.”

While visiting the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC, my husband and a number of veterans wept as people, young and old, said, “Thank you for your service.” For some of them it was the first time they had heard those words in the five decades since that war ended.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, we had a new set of heroes: our medical care providers. Every day they risked and still risk exposure to care for the sick. Why not add them to our list and drop a note or express a timely word to a health care worker: Thank you for your service!”

And let’s not forget the teachers and educators, who are facing some of the greatest challenges we, as a nation, have seen. In the midst of crisis unsung heroes emerge. Let’s sing their praises. Better yet, let’s tell it to their faces. Thank you for your service!”

Romans 13:7 - “Give to everyone what you owe them…if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor (NIV).

PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND TEACHERS:

Teach your children about the importance of respect.
Bring your kids up to a police officer, a uniformed soldier or someone wearing a veterans hat and stand with them as they say, “Thank you for your service.” You might just make their day—and yours!
Have your Sunday School class or small group write thank you notes to veterans. Your local Veterans Administration Office or Veteran’s Hospital will make sure someone needy gets them.

Email Karon Cecy

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Posted in Karon Cecy