ESB -1138
What is there left to go on for? No matter how hard you try you seem to be just out of reach of happiness. The perfect chance comes before you and you allow it to slip through your fingers and you live in doubt. Nothing could be worse then dwelling on the past. I made this mistake many, many times throughout my life and it seems that I try to make myself depressed...for some reason.
~Prologue~
I stood facing my grandfather's grave. He has passed away from this world nearly six years ago. This day was windy as the fierce breeze tried to throw me off my own feet. My hands were concealed in my pockets as my black fedora kept the sun out of my eyes. I was wearing a white button up long sleeve shirt and black pants with black shoes.
"Well papa...I don't know what to do anymore. It seems that no matter how hard I try I fall short from salvation." I said kneeling down to graze upon his grave. My grandfather fought in the Forgotten War, Korea. He was a baptist pastor and a man of God to the highest degree. I knew in my heart that he would never want me to dwell on his departure but continue to move forward.
A cloud blocked out the sun giving me shade but the wind did not cease. Someone, perhaps my grandmother, came by and laid flowers on his grave. I knew he wouldn't want me to continue here but to continue on in the teachings of Christ Jesus. He would always reassure me or himself with a verse from Matthew:
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
I couldn't help but return here for life wasn't easy with the war in Iraq. It felt like everyone in the United States were mad at President Bush for going to war but I always thought of them as selfish. They cared not for what happened to anyone else as long as they were happy. They wanted freedom just for America and no where else...but then isn't that going against why the United States were formed?
Such a downward spiral America has faced since its formation. People have begun to forget the try meaning of Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter.
Christmas has become a holiday about me, me, me and nothing more. People forgot that this was the day a savior was born and to not focus on one's desires but to care for others and give all that they can for them. Everyone just wants that new toy or whatever and never once stopped to think about what transpired on this day nearly two thousand years ago anymore. People have Christmas Parties but they never invite the birthday boy, Jesus.
Thanksgiving was NOT about the pilgrims and the native Americans who met long ago. The holiday of Thanksgiving first came about during the Civil War and was ordered by President Lincoln. Lincoln had Thanksgiving as a day of Sabbath, to not fight nor do any labor but come to worship the Lord Jesus. People hear about the bloody battles of the Civil War but people never hear about the Great Revival that happened during those times. In fact Stonewall Jackson's faith in Christ allowed him to stand in battle unflinching and that gave him his nickname Stonewall. Thanksgiving is a day to worship Jesus and put away all other tasks.
Easter has become a holiday about a rabbit and hiding eggs. I will never figure out who came up with that idea. This is a day we are suppose to rejoice! Not for eggs but for the rebirth of Jesus Christ! The Son of God conquered death and returned to the earth with full power over heaven and over earth. This was a day where everyone could find eternal salvation and yet people still refused.
With my head lowered I turned from the grave and walked back to my black truck. I stopped to take one last look and then opened the driver side of my truck and climbed in. I did not take the keys out of my pocket just yet but instead I did something else, I took a small brown Bible from the glove box and opened it up. The word of the Lord came before me.
I was at peace but yet my story hasn't even begun...
~Prologue~
I stood facing my grandfather's grave. He has passed away from this world nearly six years ago. This day was windy as the fierce breeze tried to throw me off my own feet. My hands were concealed in my pockets as my black fedora kept the sun out of my eyes. I was wearing a white button up long sleeve shirt and black pants with black shoes.
"Well papa...I don't know what to do anymore. It seems that no matter how hard I try I fall short from salvation." I said kneeling down to graze upon his grave. My grandfather fought in the Forgotten War, Korea. He was a baptist pastor and a man of God to the highest degree. I knew in my heart that he would never want me to dwell on his departure but continue to move forward.
A cloud blocked out the sun giving me shade but the wind did not cease. Someone, perhaps my grandmother, came by and laid flowers on his grave. I knew he wouldn't want me to continue here but to continue on in the teachings of Christ Jesus. He would always reassure me or himself with a verse from Matthew:
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
I couldn't help but return here for life wasn't easy with the war in Iraq. It felt like everyone in the United States were mad at President Bush for going to war but I always thought of them as selfish. They cared not for what happened to anyone else as long as they were happy. They wanted freedom just for America and no where else...but then isn't that going against why the United States were formed?
Such a downward spiral America has faced since its formation. People have begun to forget the try meaning of Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter.
Christmas has become a holiday about me, me, me and nothing more. People forgot that this was the day a savior was born and to not focus on one's desires but to care for others and give all that they can for them. Everyone just wants that new toy or whatever and never once stopped to think about what transpired on this day nearly two thousand years ago anymore. People have Christmas Parties but they never invite the birthday boy, Jesus.
Thanksgiving was NOT about the pilgrims and the native Americans who met long ago. The holiday of Thanksgiving first came about during the Civil War and was ordered by President Lincoln. Lincoln had Thanksgiving as a day of Sabbath, to not fight nor do any labor but come to worship the Lord Jesus. People hear about the bloody battles of the Civil War but people never hear about the Great Revival that happened during those times. In fact Stonewall Jackson's faith in Christ allowed him to stand in battle unflinching and that gave him his nickname Stonewall. Thanksgiving is a day to worship Jesus and put away all other tasks.
Easter has become a holiday about a rabbit and hiding eggs. I will never figure out who came up with that idea. This is a day we are suppose to rejoice! Not for eggs but for the rebirth of Jesus Christ! The Son of God conquered death and returned to the earth with full power over heaven and over earth. This was a day where everyone could find eternal salvation and yet people still refused.
With my head lowered I turned from the grave and walked back to my black truck. I stopped to take one last look and then opened the driver side of my truck and climbed in. I did not take the keys out of my pocket just yet but instead I did something else, I took a small brown Bible from the glove box and opened it up. The word of the Lord came before me.
I was at peace but yet my story hasn't even begun...