October 24 ~ Respect Life Month

PATRIOTISM is welcoming our veterans back home

A man’s spirit sustains him in infirmity – but a broken spirit who can bear?  ~ Proverbs 17:14

A soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam.  He called his parents. 
“Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve a favor to ask.  I have a friend I’d like to bring home with me.” 
“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”
“There’s something you should know.” the son continued, “He was hurt pretty badly in the fighting.  He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg.  He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, son.  Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.” 
“No, I want him to live with us.” 
“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking.  He would be a terrible burden.  He’ll find a way to live on his own.”
Their son hung up the phone.  They heard nothing more from him until they received word that he had died after falling from a building – suicide.  The grief-stricken parents were taken to identify the body.  They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know – their son had only one arm and one leg.  ~ Author unknown

What difference would ‘listening before speaking’ make in your personal relationships?  With Veterans Day approaching, how is our assembly planning to salute our patriots?

This only is charity – to do all that we can.  ~ John Donne