Great Grandpa’s Battle Plan

GrandmaGrandpaThomson

Great Grandpa’s Battle Plan

Dear Kids,

Psalm 144:1 – “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”
Your great grandparents, John and Henrietta
Thomson, on their wedding day in 1932

On Sunday afternoon, December 7, 1941, millions of Americans listening to the radio had their favorite programs interrupted with terrible news. The Imperial Japanese Navy conducted a surprise military strike on the United States naval port in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Three hundred and fifty-three enemy planes launched bombs damaging eight US battleships, four of which sank. The well-placed bombs also damaged numerous other ships and aircraft succeeding in killing 2,403 Americans and injuring 1,178 others.

This surprise attack came as a shock to most Americans and “the date that shall live in infamy” launched our country into World War II on both the Pacific and European fronts. Many citizens rushed to the recruiting offices to volunteer for war. Your Great Grandpa Thomson was one of the men who stood in line to serve his country.
After going through the recruitment process, Great Grandpa was not accepted for various reasons. He was a little older than what was optimum plus he had a wife and two children. However, this did not discourage him from doing what he could to support the war effort.
As my recollection of the story goes he was able to secure a part time job in a factory that made ammunition. If he could not be on the front lines, then he would find another way to beat the enemy. He worked hard and fast to produce the ammo that would protect our boys. But in doing so he received some discouragement from some of his co-workers. They asked him to slow down because his high level of production was making them look bad.
We laugh at this now, but Great Grandpa had a strong determination to make a difference when our country was at war. This character quality also made him a strong warrior on the spiritual battlefield. For the 25 years that I knew my grandfather he was always sharing his faith with those around him. Even at the end of his life, while lying in a hospital bed, he was still sharing God’s plan of salvation to the patient in the bed next to him.
God had trained his hands for war and his fingers for battle on the spiritual front. Though he was never on an overseas mission field, he was always a “front line missionary” who spent his life ministering to people around him. One by one, person by person, he shared the Gospel story and contributed to the great battle of the ages – a battle not fought against other countries and peoples, but one fought against the greatest enemy of all time – Satan, the prince of the power of the air.
Great Grandpa is in heaven now, but the battle still rages on. Are you willing to sign up for the Lord’s army? Ask God to train your hands for war and your fingers for battle and, as He did with Grandpa, He will reveal to you your part in the battle plan.

Love,

Mama

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Hi, I'm Sandy! 

I write inspirational letters based on the Bible that share words of hope, encouragement, truth, and healing to my children and anyone else who longs for a mama's touch.

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