| “ My son died on his own
battlefield. He was killed in action fighting a civil war. He fought against
adversaries that were as real to him as his casket is real to us. They were
powerful adversaries. They took toll of his energies and endurance. They
exhausted the last vestiges of his courage and his strength. At last these
adversaries overwhelmed him. And it appeared that he had lost the war.
But did
he? I see a host of victories that he has won!
“For one thing - he has won our admiration - because even if he lost the
war, we give him credit for his bravery on the battlefield. And we give him
credit for the courage and pride and hope that he used as his weapons as long
as he could.
We shall remember not his death, but his daily victories gained
through his kindnesses and thoughtfulness, through his love for his family and
friends...for all things beautiful, lovely, and honourable.
We shall remember not his
last day of defeat, but we shall remember the many days that he was victorious
over overwhelming odds.
We shall remember not the years we thought he had
left, but the intensity with which he lived the years that he had.
Only God
knows what this child of His suffered in the silent skirmishes that took place
in his soul. But our consolation is that God does know, and understands.”
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