Devotionals

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Thoughts To Live By
© 2012

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Write them [these my words] on the doorposts of your house and on your gates…

Deuteronomy 11:20 (NLT)


Following the Battle for Baghdad, Iraq, members of the United States Army Company D 4th Battalion began their sweep of the predesignated sector to eliminate any remaining pockets of resistance. The team of Privates Maxwell Collins, Ali Haddid and David Sewell entered the home of a family of six—two parents and their four children. Ali Haddid, an Arabic speaker, spoke to them to assure the family that no harm would come to them.

As the American soldiers searched each room, Private Haddid eyed several wooded placards. Not wishing to intrude upon the frighten family, he asked for permission to read the short statements. The statements had the following:

--THE FAMILY POSSESSING BREAD, MEAT AND WATER NEED NOT ENVY THE WEALTHY WHOSE POSSESSIONS ARE GIVEN THEM BY GOD.

--COME IN FRIEND! BE SEATED WHERE YOU MAY FOR YOU ARE WELCOME HERE NOT AS A STRANGER BUT AS A FRIEND!

--A RICH MAN CAN COUNT HIS FRIENDS. A POOR MAN CANNOT.

--WELCOME FRIEND! I HAVE MANY THINGS TO LEARN. YOU HAVE MANY THINGS TO TEACH.

Asking permission to write the family’s slogans for him to possess, the father stepped forward to welcome the three Americans saying to Private Haddid: “American soldier I see you are a man who hungers to learn the wonders of God!”

“Yes, sir,” Private Haddid responded in Arabic.

Private Haddid completed his notes, thanked the father, gave the family food, and then left without further incident.

Philosophical messages? Perhaps. Or messages placed for all who entered to read to change their lives in a word beset with envy, misinformation and hatred for those for whom we do not understand or wish to understand.

Prayer: Let us take the positive path, because it is the straightest way to You, Almighty Father!

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