Thoughts for another day

December 21, 2010

Today's verse: Lk. 2:14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Freddy was in the American Navy and on the warship, USS Sandoval. They were sailing the icy cold waters of the Pacific and a new day had just begun burning the routine into the minds of the sailors. But just after 9 am, there was a shrill siren blast and all the sailors were commanded on deck in combat readiness for the Japanese had just attacked Pearl Harbor; and none knew what was in store. Enemy aircraft suddenly loomed in the sky and even as the sailors near the anti-aircraft artillery could do anything, they saw the bombs coming. Fortunately, they hit the water and one of them was so close that the sound of the blasting bomb ripped their eardrums.

In the melee, no one noticed that some shrapnel from the bomb had hit Freddy in the chest and had penetrated into his heart. A shoot of blood started pouring out and Freddy knew it was time to return to God. He slumped on the deck and was fast slipping into unconsciousness. At that moment his entire world flashed in his mind. His young wife, just 19 and his little child, 11 months who he had not even seen were topmost and the promise he made his wife of coming home for Christmas which would now not be fulfilled. He remembered the carols being played on the ship in the early morning and his thoughts went to that little child born in the manger and the Gloria of the angels. Peace on earth to men of good will… 'Oh God, accept me and let there be real peace on earth' was his final prayer as he closed his eyes for the last time.

And truly, peace is the one ingredient that's missing from our lives just as it was in Freddy's life. There's everything in the world but peace and peace can come with God alone. Let's pray in unison this Christmas that God's peace will come to dwell with man and though much might happen, we pray and trust that God will not take His peace from us…ever.