SMA Jack Tilley described a visit a few years ago to our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington that he will never forget.
The Special Forces soldier had lost his right hand and had suffered severe wounds of his face and side of his body. As SMA Tilley described, how do you honor such a soldier, showing respect without offending?
What can you say or do in such a situation that will encourage and uplift? How do you shake the right hand of a soldier who just lost his?
Finally he told how he acted as though the man had a hand, taking his wrist as though it were his hand and speaking encouragement to him.
But he said there was another man in that group of visitors who had even brought his wife with him to visit the wounded who knew exactly what to do. This man reverently took this soldier's stump of a hand in both of his hands, bowed at the bedside and prayed for him. When he stood from praying he bent over and kissed the man on the head and told him he loved him.
What a powerful expression of love for one of our wounded heroes! And what a beautiful Christ-like example! What kind of man would kneel in such humility and submission to the Living God of the Bible?
It was George W. Bush, President of the United States and Commander in Chief of our Armed forces, a true leader. Where's that kind of love, compassion and respect today?
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
The Special Forces soldier had lost his right hand and had suffered severe wounds of his face and side of his body. As SMA Tilley described, how do you honor such a soldier, showing respect without offending?
What can you say or do in such a situation that will encourage and uplift? How do you shake the right hand of a soldier who just lost his?
Finally he told how he acted as though the man had a hand, taking his wrist as though it were his hand and speaking encouragement to him.
But he said there was another man in that group of visitors who had even brought his wife with him to visit the wounded who knew exactly what to do. This man reverently took this soldier's stump of a hand in both of his hands, bowed at the bedside and prayed for him. When he stood from praying he bent over and kissed the man on the head and told him he loved him.
What a powerful expression of love for one of our wounded heroes! And what a beautiful Christ-like example! What kind of man would kneel in such humility and submission to the Living God of the Bible?
It was George W. Bush, President of the United States and Commander in Chief of our Armed forces, a true leader. Where's that kind of love, compassion and respect today?
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
In this photo, President and Mrs. Bush meet with Staff Sgt. Michael McNaughton at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
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