Thinking of the D-Day anniversary, reminded me of this story.
One Sunday, a man went to a service in an unfamiliar church. He arrived early and parked his car. As he opened the door to get out, another car pulled up next to him and the driver wound down his window,” I always park there. You took my place!”
Once inside, he took off his hat and coat and went to hang them on the hooks in the entrance, only to have them removed by an elderly man. ” My family always hangs their garments here. You’ve taken our place.”
As time went on and the service was about to start, he found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and remarked, “That’s my seat! I’ve sat there for years! You took my place!” the visitor was rather distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
Later, as the congregation prayed for Jesus to dwell among them, the visitor stood and he began to change. Scars were visible on his hands and sandalled feet. Small pinpricks of blood trickled from thorn wounds on his head. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, “What happened to you?”
The stranger replied, “I took your place.”
We remember the brave men and women who fought for freedom in our place during the past conflicts, and especially as we remember the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Jesus said, ”Greater love hath no man than this – that a man lay down His life for his friends. ”John 15:13 Moreover, we remember Jesus, the perfect only Son of God who died that we might be forgiven and restore our relationship with God. Amen