12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13 (NKJV)
By Bro. John L. Cash, “Country Preacher Dad”
Well, all the babies are back in school this week, and you know what that means—all the mamas are back in school, too! Since you’re helping with the homework at night, I think it’s only right that I give you a little homework of your own. I want you to send a card or a letter to a soldier this week.
I’ve been told by many men and women in the military that “mail call” is either the happiest or the saddest time of the day—depending on whether you get letters or not. A soldier from my congregation came to me to thank me for writing him when he was overseas. “When they pass out the mail,” he said, “you find out who really cares about you. You don’t know how much a card or letter means.”
I spend a lot of time in my congregation preaching and teaching the epistles written by the Apostle Paul. Something I have noticed is that Paul prayed a lot differently than we Americans do. Most of the time when we give thanks, we give thanks for things. But in Paul’s writings, he most often gives God thanksgiving and praise for people. And of course, he’s got it exactly right—because the people that the Lord sends to bless our lives are all one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable.
So if you’re thankful for your freedom today, make your gratitude known. Do your duty as an American and as a follower of Jesus Christ. Write a letter to a soldier. It’s really the least you can do.
Dr. John L. Cash is the “Country Preacher Dad” * He was raised in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and is beginning his 25th year of being a country preacher in the piney woods five miles south of the little town of Hickory, Mississippi. He and his lovely wife, Susan, and his sons, Spencer (age 18) and Seth (age 15) live in the parsonage next door to the Antioch Christian Church (from which they will send you the address of a soldier, if you don’t happen to know one). You should write him at extramailbox@juno.com.
