Cliff McClelland writes: A friend of mine who served in the military put on social media this week: ‘This is the one weekend I don’t drink to forget’. Please take moment to think that through… This weekend we remember those that died in war & yet there is so much more suffering around us today, on a huge scale. Conflict affected service personnel during the world wars - not just death, but those that survived in the form of shell shock, were sent home & told ‘don’t talk about it’. This manifest in my dad & many others, where treatment was needed and never provided. Please do remember what those that went to/go to war did & continue to do for us, but please also remember those that live today with the trauma of war, recent war. My social media friend will, this week, drink to remember, awesome life changing, enhancing, developing moments in the military that make AND break people. While not to excess in her case, she normally takes a drink to dull some of the painful memories. This weekend, there will be a better reason. 1 John 3:16 says: 'By this we know love, that he (Jesus) laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.' It’s not that we compare service personnel with Jesus, or glorify war. But sacrifice for others is a model for us all to follow, as we consider others ahead of ourselves. Love them like we are first loved. Please keep an eye out for those serving soldiers that may just need some care, love and attention: For our ‘tomorrow' they gave their ’today.’
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