Grateful and Inspired
Last Friday I was privileged to speak and pray at a Police Remembrance Day ceremony here in Young. We gathered at Young Cemetery, at the newly restored graves of four police officers, each of whom lost their lives serving this community over 100 years ago.
Standing by those graves and reading the inscriptions, I was reminded that we have much to be thankful for in this country. We live under the rule of law. We enjoy great freedom. Despite much turmoil in the world over recent years and the threat posed by terrorism, we have enjoyed a level of safety and security that few other nations share.
One reason is that we have dedicated police officers who risk their lives to protect us and to uphold our laws. And we should not forget our other emergency services - the Ambulance Service of NSW, NSW Fire & Rescue, the NSW Rural Fire Service, and the SES. As the drought worsens and a bad fire season looms RFS volunteers and staff will be on the front line protecting our community this summer.
We should never take those who protect and serve our community for granted. The bible says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you who in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18). Take the time to say thank you to God for our police and emergency services, and when you see them in the street, say thank you to them as well. Be inspired by them. Be inspired by the greatest servant of our community of all time, Jesus, who laid down his life for us 2000 years ago. Again the bible says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16).
Neil Percival
Standing by those graves and reading the inscriptions, I was reminded that we have much to be thankful for in this country. We live under the rule of law. We enjoy great freedom. Despite much turmoil in the world over recent years and the threat posed by terrorism, we have enjoyed a level of safety and security that few other nations share.
One reason is that we have dedicated police officers who risk their lives to protect us and to uphold our laws. And we should not forget our other emergency services - the Ambulance Service of NSW, NSW Fire & Rescue, the NSW Rural Fire Service, and the SES. As the drought worsens and a bad fire season looms RFS volunteers and staff will be on the front line protecting our community this summer.
We should never take those who protect and serve our community for granted. The bible says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you who in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18). Take the time to say thank you to God for our police and emergency services, and when you see them in the street, say thank you to them as well. Be inspired by them. Be inspired by the greatest servant of our community of all time, Jesus, who laid down his life for us 2000 years ago. Again the bible says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16).
Neil Percival