"The Few and the Proud...Thank you"

copyrighted by Art4Him Studios 2010

This drawing is dedicated to ALL of our Armed Forces, who have sacrificed so much for our country. 

I was asked by one of my students a few years back, if I would draw a picture of the Marine emblem for him. I said, "Yes, when I have the chance." I have a tender heart towards the Marines, as my brother served with them.  It took me about a year as I had put it aside; I was working on some other projects and felt I needed to get those completed first.
As I started working on this, I began praying for all of our troops, especially the ones in harm's way. I was reminded of the great sacrifices our military make for our freedom. It is not just the military personnel, but their families also. I have seen the hardship these families go through, especially as their loved one has been deployed to a place of violence. I have read and heard the prayer requests from both the families and the ones that have been deployed.
Do we truly comprehend the cost of freedom? I think too many times, when we see the word "free" in a word, we automatically think that it comes without a cost. Our freedom comes at a great cost to so many. Every time someone complains about prayer in schools, wanting God taken out of our pledge of allegiance or out of our motto "In God We Trust", I have to remember that many gave their lives so that these people can have the freedom to say what they like, even when I don't like it. It also gives me the freedom to share the message of the love that God has for us and those same people who want to take Him out of everything; when He gave us the greatest gift of freedom: salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. The freedom from sin and death came at the greatest cost...Christ dying in our place at Calvary. Praise the Lord, that He conquered death by His resurrection! I am so thankful for Christ paying my debt...I am free in Him!!!  That is true freedom!!!
I am thankful for the freedom that I have here in America. I am so thankful for the military who give so much to protect our freedoms. When was the last time you went up to someone in the Armed Forces and thanked them for their service to our country? It is such a rewarding thing to be able to do that. They need to hear our "Thanks"! The smile on their faces and the tears in their eyes are so well worth going out of your comfort zone to talk to a stranger. Whether they are serving in the Marines, Navy, Air Force, Army or Coast Guard, they deserve our thanks and prayers!!! 
"O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle."  Psalm 140:7  (English Standard Version)