I'm not sure what it was that grabbed me on baldilocks' post, Servant-Leader Honored. I think maybe it was the concept of servant-leadership, which is a core value of Christianity. But then the words of the Congressional Medal of Honor citation, although I'd read them before, also brought tears of gratitude to my eyes.
I've known about SFC Smith for a while now. His story has brought tears to my eyes, a frog to my throat, and joyful humility to my heart. But, I haven't had the words.
Now, I do.
As I tried to explain to the Darling Munchkin - who is only 8, even if she is (in my opinion) brilliant and loving - about the importance of this man and the honor we owe him, the words of a little-sung verse of "America the Beautiful" ran through my mind:
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
How to explain to an eight year old the honor, the sacrifice, the sense of duty, the courage, the selflessness of such a man as SFC Paul Smith?
This medal epitomizes, it embodies, the highest and most elevated ideals of character in this country. Although it is awarded only to military personnel, it is a true mirror of what this country values in its heart.
- Honor
- Courage
- Duty
- Leadership
- Initiative
- Self-sacrifice
- Ingenuity
- Integrity
As I tried to explain all this to my daughter, again, I choked up. Her eyes wide, she was very quiet as she waited for me to continue.
And so I said, "Honey, that is a man. A real man. A man who knows his duty, and valiantly, selflessly does it. The only better example than the recipients of this medal that I can give is Christ Himself."
John 15:12-14 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you."(NKJV)
Rest in peace, SFC Smith. I pray that America will live up to your sacrifice for a long, long time. May we never forget, and may we never fail to respect and honor you and your fellows.
Amen.
