A Patriotic Heart for America
Today we honor an estimated 20 million military veterans in the United States as we observe Veterans Day. Today reminds us of those who have selflessly defended the freedoms of our nation, and the sacrifices made for us and future generations. These hard-won liberties are the bedrock of America and God’s blessings.
After four years of fighting, World War I officially came to an end on November 11—at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the armistice with Germany went into effect.
A century later, America remains a beacon of hope for people around the world. Founded on Christian ideals, this nation mightily arose with the responsibility of serving the rest of the world. The late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, co-founder of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), spoke of living with a heart of service and selflessness on October 3, 1973 in Washington D.C.
“Selfless Giving Will Bring Prosperity” excerpt:
“The more you give, the more you receive. God rewards total giving with total love, and total sacrifice with total life. Giving creates room for God’s love to enter. The more room and the greater the vacuum created by your giving, the faster you will be filled by the flow of God’s love…
Jesus came as a savior, but his teaching was, ‘The son of man came not to be served but to serve.’ (Matthew 20:28) Jesus taught that the greatest love in this universe is to give one’s life for his enemy. The teaching of the Bible is contrary to the common rule of our worldly society. It is exactly the opposite of the way of this self-centered world. The Bible teaches complete giving and total sacrifice. ‘He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.’ (Matthew 10:39) It seems almost foolish to think seriously about living this way in man’s evil society. But once you know God’s principle, you discover that there is actually no wisdom greater than this.
Jesus Christ’s teachings hit the very core of this fundamental truth. To be treated well you must first treat others well. You reap as you sow. Sow evil to reap evil; sow goodness to reap goodness. Your concern should be how to give, and how to give well. As for the return to you, you must trust in God. He will take care of it.
By giving and serving unselfishly this man becomes prosperous. He is a center of harmony and unity because he lives God’s principle. Unselfishness brings prosperity. It is universally true. A self-centered doctrine, a self-centered philosophy, a self-centered way of life will fling you head over heels down the tragic road of self-destruction. But if you live your life in service to others, you will find prosperity.
It may seem that such a route would lead you to ruin, but it will not. The only reason it may not always bring prosperity to you is because you do not give to the very end. In the middle you suddenly become skeptical. You change your heart or pity yourself and thus shrink from God’s law of total giving. The good result never materializes. Total giving is the way of prosperity because it is the way of God.” —Rev. Sun Myung Moon
In 2018, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day—later changed to Veterans Day in 1954—and the countless veterans who fought to serve America, Mother of Peace and FFWPU co-founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon donated $13,000 each to four veteran organizations in New York: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Headstrong, Union Cyber, and Black Veterans For Social Justice.
“God blessed America to become a country that would create an environmental realm for the returning Lord who said he would come again,” said Dr. Moon during her speech at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. “Heaven blessed America and in the short period of 200 years, it became a central nation and a democratic nation which leads the world.”
There is no greater gift than laying down our lives for God and others—a risk our veterans took during their active duty, now continued by our current servicemen and women.
Thank you to all of our veterans for your patriotic heart for America!
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