June 6, 2013 (Thursday)
“I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle”–General Eisenhower to the Allied troops on D-Day
Today, June 6, in 1944 was “D-Day.” Anyone who was living at the time did not need anyone to explain what that meant. The world–friend and foe alike–had been anticipating the day when Allied troops would invade the European mainland. People had been talking about it for a long time before it happened.
If you saw the movie, “Saving Private Ryan,” you saw a dramatic presentation of invasion that consumed a lot of time in the movie. It’s hard to watch, because it sought to make a realistic presentation of the events of that day. As hard to watch as it is, the movie cannot possibly portray the horrors of the experience.
That day was the beginning of the end for the Nazis. In less than a year they surrendered unconditionally. But that was only a part of the world-wide conflagration known as World War 2. Deadly, gruesome battles of an all-out war went on around the world. By August of 1945 it was all over. But was it? The world continues to have war after war. Perhaps it’s in our nature.
Devotional Thought: Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9 NIV). Those who fought at Normandy on D-Day and all the others on our side who fought in that war were peacemakers. They were waging war, but their goal was to end the war and get back home to their own lives and loved ones. Those who died in the service of their country are remembered on Memorial Day, and all others who have served in the military are remembered on Veteran’s Day. But all the ceremonies and words of gratitude can never be enough. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13 NIV). There is One who laid down His life for us on the Cross many years ago. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 KJV).