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Lest we forget the reasons
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Lest we forget … did you remember the significance of Dec. 7? Or do you know, if you are too young to remember?

Dec.  7  was a day of infamy, as described by our then president, Franklin Roosevelt. Yes, it was that fateful Sunday when the Japanese were successful in a sneak attack on our military bases at Pearl Harbor. And I have burned in my memory where I was and what I was doing when that news came across on the radio. In 1941 there was no television and continuous breaking news.

I was 10 years old and had two brothers in the Navy. It was an event that changed life for all of us and our nation. The nation changed drastically and families became intent on trying to keep up with the news of the war. Our set time of quiet in the family living room was at 8 p.m. each evening when there was news of the war.

We, as a nation and citizens, got busy and did what had to be done and accomplished the defeat of all three Axis powers in a period of less than four years, in fact 44 months. The caution here is that we should have never been caught so flat-footed by the attack, there were warning signs that were ignored. Let our prayers be that we as citizens and a nation never allow ourselves to become so vulnerable to such attacks from within our nation or from outside sources.

Lest we forget … let’s ask all of you to think about this fateful day and awful battles that followed, make sure that your children and younger members of your family who do not remember from personal experience but who should know about this dramatic day of infamy in the history of our great nation.

Lest we forget …. make sure that we, as believers, stand up in defense of keeping “Christ” in “Christmas”. No more of that “happy holiday” stuff. Surely there are those among us who follow other callings, they don’t have to celebrate our way, but I have to tell them that they are missing a wonderful experience in the true celebration of Christmas.

The news carried a story about some part-time employee of a school system in North Carolina objected to the school children putting Christian literature in the shoe box gift being prepared by Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse organization’s annual effort in sending thousands of these shoe box gifts to children in developing countries around the world. Excuse me, what did they expect from an organization that is a widely recognized Christian organization? The sad part is that the effort was cancelled in the school because of this one complaint. I don’t know about you but I am tired of all of this political correctness, when we allow a few complaints to take the rights of many.

Lest we forget … remember the significance of Christmas, a suggestion … instead of buying a gift for someone who has everything and will probably end up putting the gift in a drawer or on the shelf in the closet, make a gift to a charity of their choice. Locally we have several food pantries that are always in need of cash to carry on their operation, Effingham Empty Stocking Fund ... there are many others, “Wounded Warriors Project” is a wonderful one. It was perhaps my most appreciated gift last year when one of my children made a contribution this organization that does so much for those who have done so much for all of us.

Lest we forget … remember the passage from Matthew 25 to paraphrase “when you did it for the least of these, you did unto me.”

So, yes, in reality this could be your Christmas gift to your Savior, Jesus Christ.
And

Lest we forget … it has been a tough year for many of us, more so for some than others. Now is a good time to count your blessings. You have many, if you will only think about it.

For one, I am thankful for good health and long life. I am thankful that my needs are provided for; I am thankful for my family and their well-being; I am thankful to live in country that gives me the freedoms I have; I am thankful to live in a community that tends to see about those in need. The list could go on and on, but perhaps you get the idea.

Try listing your blessings and see if you won’t find your spirits uplifted and you will be able to get into the Christmas spirit.

Merry Christmas.