The Sacrifice

(Thomas, the grandson of a retired veteran, walks into Hollmer Nursey to visits his Grandpa Earl. He walks to the receptionist’s desks and realizes no one is sitting there to greet him. He immediately signs in, and walks down the hall towards his grandpa’s room.)

Thomas: Now, where is room 401?

Thomas: 408, 407, 406, I must be close.

Thomas: 403, 402, ah ha 401.

(Thomas stops in front of room 401, opens the door and walks in. He sees an older man, light brown, with glasses, and short kinky white hair sitting in a rocking chair looking out the window.)

Thomas: Hey Grandpa Earl.

(The man looking outside the window turned around.)

Grandpa Earl: Hey boy, I didn’t even hear you come in. How are you? Come over here and give Grandpa Earl a hug. 

Thomas: I’m doing good Grandpa Earl. I just got out of class.

(Thomas walked over to Grandpa Earl, bent down and gave him a hug. After hugging Grandpa Earl, Thomas then stood up, turned around and sat on the bed next to the rocking chair.)

Grandpa Earl: Class? Son, in my day we didn’t have no class. Right after grade school we went straight into the military.

Thomas: The military? Oh no, I couldn’t imagine going straight into the military, Thomas said as he wrinkled his face.

Grandpa Earl: Son, see that’s what’s wrong with you young folks. Y’all don’t know no nothing about sacrifice.

(Thomas lets out a sigh, and looks down)

Grandpa Earl: Listen boy. Look at me when I talk to you.

(Thomas looked up at Grandpa Earl)

Grandpa Earl: What is that sitting on my nightstand in that case?

(Thomas turns around and sees a flag sitting in a case)

Thomas: A flag. 

Grandpa Earl:  That flag represents The United States of America. That flag represents freedom. That flag represents sacrifice. That flag represents celebration. Those colors and stripes on that flag mean something.

Thomas: What do they mean?

Grandpa Earl: Son let me tell you a story. I want you to lie back on bed, close your eyes, and visualize what I am a getting ready to tell you. Only then, will you truly understand sacrifice.

(Thomas laid back on the bed and closed his eyes)

Grandpa Earl: Ok son, It’s a bright and sunny day. You’re out and you see this tall silver pole that is holding the American flag on it. The flag is waving slightly because of the light breeze that’s in the air. You are looking up at it and you see a thick blue banner that is holding bright stars on it. You also see red and white stripes that are draped across it going in one direction.

(Thomas nods)

Grandpa Earl: The blue banner catches your eye first. Blue represents perseverance. Blue also represent strength, wisdom, and trust. In the Army, this flag gave me the strength to serve the American people.

Grandpa: “Next, you notice a bunch of stars that seem to fill the entire Blue banner. Those stars symbolize a person’s goals. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “The sky is the limit.

Thomas: Yes. I’ve heard that.

Grandpa Earl: Our Goals, wants, and needs are represented in those stars. I made it my mission in the Army defend my country at whatever cost.

(Thomas sat up and opened his eyes)

Thomas: What about Grandma Emma? Didn’t you ever miss her?

Grandpa Earl: I sure did. I missed her and your dad very much. There were many birthdays and holidays I missed because I was away protecting our country. I was away making sure America had a future.

(Grandpa Earl teared up)

Thomas: Wow! Thank You for sacrifice. Are you crying?

Grandpa Earl: No, boy it’s a bit stuffy in hear. My allergies are bothering me. Now lay back and visualize what I’m saying.

Thomas: Okkkayyy.

(Thomas shakes his head and lays back down)

(Grandpa Earl wipes his eyes)

 (Thomas closed his eyes once more visualizing the American Flag)

Grandpa Earl: The white stripes on the flag represent light.  The color white represents purity. As a solider in the Army, America reminded me of purity and innocence. There was no way I would let anyone come onto U.S. soil and harm her.

Grandpa Earl: The red stripes on the flag represent bravery, boldness, and bloodshed. Red symbolizes strength, power, love, and war. Every morning I got up and put on that uniform I knew I was walking in boldness. I knew that that I was doing a great honor by serving and protecting my country.  I was ready to lay my life down for my brothers and sisters.

(Grandpa Earl begins to weep)

Thomas: Are you ok?

(Thomas gets up and hugs his grandpa)

(Grandpa Earl embraces Thomas)

Grandpa Earl: I’m ok boy. Every time I tell this story, I get teary-eyed thinking about the sacrifices that have been made.

(Thomas let go of Grandpa Earl and sat back down on the bed)

Grandpa Earl: The greatest man I know and that walked this earth knew what it meant to serve and sacrifice. Because of what Jesus did for me I knew I could serve my country. Jesus walked from place to place to share the gospel. There were moments he was tired and weary, but he kept going because he knew how important the mission of saving lost souls were. There are countless stories of Jesus serving. At one point, he even washed the disciples’ feet. Our Lord, our savior, humbled himself to wash the feet of others. He could have easily said, I’m Jesus, you guys should wash my feet, but he didn’t. He made it his mission to save and serve others.

Thomas: That’s very true Grandpa Earl. He was our first example of how a solider should conduct himself.

Grandpa Earl: That’s very true son. You know, I’ve learned in this life that we can always come to God and pray for anything because after all nothing is too hard for God to take care of.

Thomas: Amen. That’s very true. And, we should not give up, but keep asking and seeking the Lord and he will provide those things.

Grandpa Earl: Amen, Son. Amen. I just cannot fathom that God sent his only child to be beaten and bruised for me. Wow, Jesus had me in mind as he lay dying on that cross. Jesus has made me clean and pure through him dying on the cross.

Thomas: That’s very true Grandpa E. You’re right. It is so hard to comprehend that he willing scarified himself so that you and I could experience eternal life in heaven. That just goes to show you how much God really loves us. He gave his only child up as a living sacrifice. His child was whipped, beaten, made fun of, and shed every ounce of his blood.

Grandpa Earl: That’s right. Because Christ died on the cross, for me I could walk in boldness.

Thomas: Before today, I never realized the many connections between Jesus and soldiers. If you think about it Grandpa E, we all are God’s soldiers fighting on the battlefield. Every day we get up and face various battles. Us going out into the world, is the battlefield. I understand now why you are always telling me to stay prayed up and to put on the whole armor of God. The armor of God is like that military uniform you wore in the Army.

Grandpa Earl: mmmhhh. So, you do listen when I’m talkin’ to you?

(They both chuckled)

Thomas: Of course, Grandpa E.