I was reading a WWII children’s book this evening (“The Good Fight” by Stephen Ambrose) because my youngest son (9) was asking about Pearl Harbor and WWII. (My oldest daughter (14) wrote for a report about Pearl Harbor last week, so that’s why my son was interested.) I remembered reading the book a few years ago, so I called for it for him. I read from the Introduction a quote from an American veteran about what it all meant: “Listen, I was eighteen years old and had my whole life ahead of me. I had been taught the difference between right and wrong. I'd didn't want to live in a world in which wrong prevailed. So I fought.” I thought that was important, so I mentioned it to my oldest son (12).
Then I started thinking. This week, my oldest daughter’s report is to be a persuasion report about whether or not schools should teach students about the Holocaust. I have also remarked to her earlier that we have a silent holocaust in our country – the problem of abortion. I have also been aware of the Gosnell case, which is almost unmentioned in the Press (although it seems to be what should sell for the ‘news’) but which is noticed on the pro-life side.
I hold my daughter that Psalm 127:4 says: “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.” I would like to see my (six) children be like weapons for the war fighting in our culture, like be veteran above was for his 20th century. Instead of fighting with weapons for death and destruction, I hope that they will be forces of light and truth fighting against the death and destruction against the lies of our time (or rightly theirs – the 21st century). In fact, I hope to be a better soldier in that ‘Silent War” myself.
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I was reading a WWII children’s book this evening (“The Good Fight” by Stephen Ambrose) because my youngest son (9) was asking about Pearl Harbor and WWII. (My oldest daughter (14) wrote for a report about Pearl Harbor last week, so that’s why my son was interested.) I remembered reading the book a few years ago, so I called for it for him. I read from the Introduction a quote from an American veteran about what it all meant: “Listen, I was eighteen years old and had my whole life ahead of me. I had been taught the difference between right and wrong. I'd didn't want to live in a world in which wrong prevailed. So I fought.” I thought that was important, so I mentioned it to my oldest son (12).
Then I started thinking. This week, my oldest daughter’s report is to be a persuasion report about whether or not schools should teach students about the Holocaust. I have also remarked to her earlier that we have a silent holocaust in our country – the problem of abortion. I have also been aware of the Gosnell case, which is almost unmentioned in the Press (although it seems to be what should sell for the ‘news’) but which is noticed on the pro-life side.
I hold my daughter that Psalm 127:4 says: “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.” I would like to see my (six) children be like weapons for the war fighting in our culture, like be veteran above was for his 20th century. Instead of fighting with weapons for death and destruction, I hope that they will be forces of light and truth fighting against the death and destruction against the lies of our time (or rightly theirs – the 21st century). In fact, I hope to be a better soldier in that ‘Silent War” myself.
May God help me.
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