by Barbara Latta
Freddie Bentley, a 22-year-old British reality star said
that young children shouldn’t be taught about World War II in order to preserve
their mental health. This seems to be the growing trend among young people. Because
they have grown up in schools where history is either not taught at all or is
revised to preserve political correctness, they have no idea about the cost another
generation paid so they can have their right to express themselves and the
economic freedom that gives them all their “stuff.” This young man should go
back and see the devastation to his own country after Germany bombed London.
Had Winston Churchill not had the fortitude to say, “Never, never, never give up,”
all of Europe would be speaking German and living under Nazism to this day.
The Importance of Providential History
My husband and I recently saw the movie, Midway. This
re-enactment of the World War II battle of Midway depicts the ingenuity, grit
and determination of a group of men who were facing a military giant that had attacked
us without provocation a few months before. The Japanese Navy was superior in
equipment and fighting forces. The United States had the disadvantage of
destroyed ships in the water at Pearl Harbor and the loss of manpower. We were
in the throes of recovering from the devastation of attack and had to scramble
a Navy back together to defend our shores, try to determine where the enemy
would attack next and be on the offensive to seek out and destroy.
But we did have one thing on our side—our freedom was at
stake. And the fighting forces of World War II and all those in wars before
that time had that truth so emblazoned upon their hearts they were not willing
to give it up. The hardships of war, the suffering through POW camps, the injuries,
PTSD and separations from home did not sway their resolve. And people back home
were praying.
The generations before us were taught from an early age the
history and godly founding of our country. Schools allowed prayer and Bible
reading, discipline was enforced, and patriotism abounded. We knew the price
that was paid by the founding fathers and we celebrated Thanksgiving knowing
why the Puritans traveled to the New World.
There is a danger in forgetting our history or rewriting it
to avoid offending certain groups of people.
We can learn a lesson from the Israelites.
In Judges 8:34 it says, Thus the sons of Israel did not
remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their
enemies on every side. Several generations after the deliverance from Egypt
the Hebrews did not know God. Over time the parents stopped teaching their
children the ways of God and evil prevailed. They started worshipping idols and
even sacrificing their children to false gods. Eventually the Bible says, In
those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own
eyes (Judges 17:6 NASB).
There were no standards. Everyone did what was right in his
own eyes. But what was right in their own eyes was wrong.
War is harsh, bloody, devastating and costly—and yes, it’s
offensive. It’s offensive that so many must suffer hardship, wounds, and
prisons so the rest of us can be free. It’s offensive that other nations want
to attack and take away what free countries have. But the history shouldn’t be
erased because of that. It should be remembered and learned from. What others
have done for us should be honored.
We are attacked because God founded our country. That’s why
the devil uses other nations who do not know God to come against us. If he
stops the United States, very few other countries in the world will stand up and
fight against communism and terrorism.
Our providential history is important. We were founded by
God so we could worship Him. Those Puritans that sailed to the New World over a
three-month journey on rough seas, little food, cold and sickness did so
because their desire to worship God without restraint prevailed over their
comforts.
If we don’t teach our children where we came from, we will
be headed down the same road the Israelites traveled.
May Thanksgiving celebrations remind us to have grateful hearts for what we have.
It was paid for at a dear price.
And may you and your family enjoy this season of Thanksgiving!
Please feel free to share your thoughts of gratitude for our blessings.
Please feel free to share your thoughts of gratitude for our blessings.
