The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Heroes"
"God sees the laborers unknown to nearly all, but known by Him. He sees their weariness, their sweat, their sacrifice, and their devotion to loved ones. He hears the prayers often uttered from quiet desperation, prayers for strength to press on to fulfill duty and devotion."
This coming Saturday morning, a man will awaken very early to head to a weekend job site after working all week in his regular employment. Hard economic times, misfortune, and illness all play a role in the challenge he faces of working two and perhaps three jobs to ensure his wife and family are housed, fed, and cared for in every way possible.
Actually, many men and women will spend this weekend in such endeavor, sacrificing much of themselves in order to provide for their family. They will then arise Monday morning to repeat another week of the same, ignoring weariness as best they can, and overcoming it by the grace of God to do what they must. If asked about their sacrifice, they will simply say, "I am doing what I have to do."
We often hear the term "hero" in our generation applied to many people, in many walks of life. Often, such ones engage in employments of talent, time, and energy that generously reward them. Some may earn more in an hour than the aforementioned gentleman will earn in a year. Without begrudging the good fortune of those so favored, I wonder: who most defines "hero" in these very different scenarios?
Perhaps both. Some people who receive great reward for their labors exercise their gifts for genuine good to the glory of God and the benefit of people. "Heroic" may apply to such ones. However, the one working two or three jobs to provide for his family will likely never be termed as such. Except maybe by his family. And maybe in Heaven. Indeed, God sees the laborers unknown to nearly all, but known by Him. He looks upon their weariness, their sweat, their sacrifice, and their devotion to loved ones. He hears the prayers uttered often from quiet desperation, prayers for strength to press on to fulfill duty and devotion. Certainly, the Lord answers, and if He sees heroes on this planet, I suspect He looks in the direction of those viewed only by Him and by those who receive the benefit of actions that must be termed heroic.
The good these ones do cannot be measured. God doubtless adds His rich blessing to their largely unknown endeavors. We do well to add our prayers for them, offerings of thanksgiving for benefits they convey, and requests of intercession for their well being. Heaven will measure all things some day, and weighty on its scale will be the hearts of the heroes never identified as such, save by the Lord and a few.
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."
(I Corinthians 1:26-29)
Weekly Memory Verse
Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord, He is God in Heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
(Deuteronomy 4:39)
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