The cost of freedom

Last night, Michael received a call letting him know that one of church member's husbands had died when his helicopter crashed as he was serving our country in Afghanistan. For privacy reasons, I won't give names, but he was a young man who is leaving behind a 28 year old wife, a 3 year old daughter, and a child yet to be born. (His wife is 6 months pregnant.) There seem to be no words to express what a tragic loss this is for this family, our church, our community, and country. Our Easter celebration at church today was shadowed with sadness, pain, and I dare say, a little anger as well. Anger that a young man will not be returning home to his family. Anger that there will be an empty chair around a family dinner table. Anger that a little girl will no longer have her Daddy around to see her grow up. Anger that a sweet baby will arrive in this world without ever feeling the arms of a Daddy who loved him or her so. Anger that a family who should have a happy future together now is faced with loss.

But in this Easter season, as we remember the hurt, sorrow, anger, and pain of this earthly life, we can still look to the hope that has been given to us because of another man who gave the Ultimate Sacrifice so that we might have eternal life. And because He lives, so can we also. Just as this soldier sacrificed his life, giving his all so that we might continue to live in a free world, Jesus Christ gave up His own life for our salvation. And because of that free gift, we have eternal life in Him. And while the pain of this world continues on, we can cling to Hope.

My heart breaks for this family. I don't know them well, but I cannot even begin to imagine their pain and sorrow. Please, if it crosses your mind, take a moment and breathe a prayer for them.

Twila Paris wrote a song called "What did He die for?" and it has been running through my mind since Michael got that phone call yesterday. The lyrics are listed below, and are a wonderful reminder of the sacrifice that too many of our service men and women are called to make. I hope the lyrics are a meaningful reminder to you of the cost of our freedom, both as Americans and Christians. Thank you to our service men and women for your service, so that we may continue to enjoy the freedoms of this country. Thank you Jesus for our salvation, so that we may be truly free.


What did he die for? Twila Paris

He was twenty-one in 1944
He was hope and he was courage on a lonely shore
Sent there by a mother with love beyond her tears
Just a young American who chose to rise above his fears
And as I watch him struggle up that hill
Without a thought of turning back
I cannot help but wonder

What did he die for?
When he died for you and me
Made the sacrifice
So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each to heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside and ask the question

What did he die for?
When he died for me
To the darkest day in A.D. 33
Came the mercy and compassion of eternity
Sent there by a Father with love beyond His tears
Blameless One, the only Son
to bear the guilt of all these years
And as I watch Him struggle up that hill
Without a thought of turning back
I cannot help but wonder

What did He die for?
When He died for you and me
Made the sacrifice
So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each to heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside and ask the question

What did he die for?
He died for freedom
He died for love
And all the things we do not pay Him back
Could never be enough
What did He die for?
When He died for you and me
Made the sacrifice

So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each to heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside and ask the question
What did he die for?
When He died for me