Remember the mourners as well as dead
John 15: 13 Jesus said, "No one has a love greater than this, to lay down your life for your friends." (NIV Holy Bible)
I am fortunate to have been born after World War Two, for obvious reasons.
Growing up in the 1950s meant that I heard a lot about the war, without having memories of it. My life has not been touched by the immense grief so many people have felt, and continue to feel, through the loss of their loved ones, who have laid down their lives for the benefit of others.
As I've matured, I've watched the horror of Northern Ireland, with the huge loss of life. My cousin served in the Falklands conflict, where 255 service men laid down their lives. 255 more grieving families.
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When America and Britain invaded Iraq our son was a baby. I felt afraid as a mother, wondered if it would last long enough for him to be called up to serve.
I sighed with relief because it was soon over. Yet many men, and women too, laid down their lives, many more families mourning them, and adapting to life without them.
In recent years hundreds of brave service men and women have laid down their lives, in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have watched with horror at the loss of life, and prayed for all of them, and for all those who are left to grieve. Yet I do not know what it feels like personally.
But my time has come to be useful, because as a minister, with churches in Plymouth, Torpoint and Millbrook, I have some contact with families who live with loss, and the fear of losing their loved ones as they serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I mainly listen. Occasions, such as "Messy Church", gives my churches the opportunity to provide activities for their children which brings happiness. Our churches' place is alongside our service men, women and families, if they let us. So I say: "We are here for you, please let us serve you." I don't know how they feel, but I do know that they are all precious in God's sight, and that God loves them, and cares for them, and wants us to do the same.
John Clarke, church steward at Mount Gould, told me this: "Harry Patch said, 'Yes remember the dead, but do not forget those that mourn, for every one that was killed perhaps six were mourning.'"
We remember, and thank you. Rev Alison Richardson is Methodist minister at Mount Gould, Cornerstone at Torpoint and Millbrook
Comments
by CharlieDodd
Monday, November 12 2012, 5:48PM
“The Chinese are making their move!-
"China began the scramble for Afghanistan's untapped oil reserves by announcing an exploration contract with Kabul – the first such international agreement in decades"- Telegraph online, 12 Nov 2012”
by CharlieDodd
Monday, November 12 2012, 1:04PM
“Kiddies, kiddies,get on that naughty step this instant!
Haven't you learnt yet that my superhuman debating skills are down to the fact that I can back up everything I say with hard fact?
Surely you don't think the US and Britain are in Afgh out of the goodness of their hearts? Google 'Afghanistan oil' to educate yourselves..:)
News item- "there is so much potential in Afghanistan, an oil rush is already taking off in the country,Afghanistan is set to start pumping oil for the first time in its history,1.9 billion barrels of recoverable reserves is estimated to lie underground."”
by harrydylan
Monday, November 12 2012, 11:08AM
“There is NO oil in Afghanistan, CharlieDodd. Duhhh!!!”
by harrydylan
Monday, November 12 2012, 11:07AM
“Here's some real information for you CharlieDodd - there is no oil production in Afghanistan. Still, never let the facts get in the way of an argument for Christianity, eh?”
by Nevman
Sunday, November 11 2012, 2:53PM
“Oh, put a sock in it, you sorry little troll. I have one account here, and it's the only one I've ever had. You, on the other hand, have been Mick_Barb, Johnny_Brant and Bob_WIckerman, all of whose words and silly games match your present 'style' precisely. The reason you pick up so many red flags is because, increasingly, people are sick and tired of you and your nonsense.
Everyone with experience of your childish ways also knows your propensity for twisting words taken out of context, sas is pretty obvious from the one steal you keep trying to use against me - timed and dated from your own personal archive, naturally, because keeping a record of everyone who's ever dared to cross swords with you is one of the hallmarks of the epic troll.
Ge the message? You've been well and truly sussed, and more and more people are wise to your immature behaviour. Why don't you set up your own blog, where you can talk rubbish to your heart's content, and leave the grown-ups here to discuss things rationally?”
by Nevman
Sunday, November 11 2012, 8:29AM
“Off goes thisisplymouth's resident troll again, quoting the interchangeable gods that exist in his head: Jesus, Elvis, Churchill, Obi-Wan Ke***e, Rocky... the list, like CharlieBob, just goes on and on and on.
If you want to see a masterclass in evasion, ask this so-called 'Christian' how he squares the teachings of his personal friend Jesus with his support for the BNP (as evidenced by numerous postings, especially under his old pseudonym Mick_Barb)!”
by CharlieDodd
Saturday, November 10 2012, 6:11PM
“As Churchill once said- "In war one has neither friends or enemies, only interests"
Obama, Cameron and other western countries have got an interest in Afghans oil, that's why they're there, it's nowt to do wiv religion!”
by flowcur
Saturday, November 10 2012, 4:16PM
“better bet would be to stop creating moaners & dead...........
but I suppose there's to much money & power stake @ the "war" game that imaginary friend worshipers will be busy dealing with consequence till end of time....”
by CharlieDodd
Saturday, November 10 2012, 3:51PM
“..Paulmh said- 'a majority of these various religions seem to point to a single god, then it must be the same god just with a different name'..
But only one (Christianity) has the Son of God in it, so all the rest are like rock n roll CD's without Elvis on them, right Elv?..:)
"Uh-huh"..”
by Foldart
Saturday, November 10 2012, 3:11PM
“It's the extremism that leads religion into intolerance, paulmh66. But, thankfully religion is on the wane.”