"Greater Love Has No One Than This..."

Most of you know the rest of the quote: "...that he lay down his life for his friends."

Some of you might even know that it's from the Bible -- John 15:13, to be precise. They are the words of Jesus, who in the context of the passage was speaking of His own imminent sacrifice for the sins of humanity (the preceding verse is, "My command is this: love each other as I have loved you"). But in a broader context, self-sacrifice on behalf of another is still a worthy pursuit and a hallmark of devotion. Aside from Jesus, have you met anyone recently who has laid down his life for someone else?

Men and women of the United States Armed Forces are doing this every day, all of them laying down their lives in a metaphorical sense as they leave behind loved ones for months at a time, in the service of a sometimes grateful, but often forgetful, nation.

Then there are those who lay down their lives in a literal sense. It's not enough to say that many are killed; many more are wounded, in body and in spirit.

In honor of Veteran's Day (this Saturday, go thank a veteran!), I once again call your attention to the work of an organization called Soldiers' Angels. It doesn't matter what you think of the war in Iraq or of the current geopolitical climate. If you value self-sacrifice -- and if you are one of my Christian readers, you should, because it is at the very heart of your faith -- please show your support to a U.S. Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.

How? Soldiers' Angels offers several opportunities for you to reach out to military personnel and their families, but today I'm specifically highlighting two programs, one with an immediate and one with a longer-term impact.

1.) M*A*S*H units as we might think of them no longer exist; now, when a soldier is wounded, he is quickly transported to a combat support hospital, and it can take days or weeks for him to receive replacement supplies and personal belongings. The Wounded Soldier Project provides "First Response Backpacks" full of necessities and comfort items, including toiletries, phone cards, clothing and handmade blankets, to give to those who arrive with nothing but what's left of their uniform.

It may seem like a small gesture, but if you were 20 years old and combat-injured, lying in a hospital bed (possibly even in a foreign country) with no friends or family at your bedside, you might have a different perspective. One grateful mom wrote, "Dear Soldiers' Angels, thank you for the blanket. My son won't let go of it."

2.) Project Valour-IT is an initiative to provide voice-activated laptops to troops who are recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations, whether at home or still in the hospital. If you just used your perfectly intact hand to click on that link, please consider a donation.

I know the holidays are upon us, and there's a spending opportunity or obligation around every corner. But if you're strapped for cash and still want to support these initiatives, you can always e-mail the Wounded Team to inquire about opportunities to help with letters, cards and comfort items.

Show your love to someone who has shown the greatest love. Give 'til it heals.

Happy Veterans Day.