Sacrifice, Tears and a Thank you

I was in Chicago celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary and we went to the lake shore to watch the air show. Pretty amazing stuff. We were sitting right where the sand begins so we were pretty far away from the water itself. I noticed some people standing and clapping near a path made of wood that went from our cement boardwalk all the way to the water. Coming up the little wooden path was a stream of wheelchairs being pushed by volunteers in blue shirts. As they got closer I realized why people near this small river of wheelchairs were standing and clapping. This was the beginning of a group of 400 World War II veterans who were ready to go home after watching some of the air show. I happened to be right next to where the wooden path met the boardwalk so I stood and began to clap. These were the men who had fought the great war. They were old now. Old and broken and in many ways forgotten. But not this day. This day they were cheered again. As they wheeled up the ramp several looked at me and mouthed the words "Thank you". I could only tear up and mouth back, "No, thank you". I fought back the tears and this is what struck me. I am moved and choked up because these men I don't really know sacrificed so I could experience the freedom I have. I am not sure how much each one of them had to do with my freedom but I have some inkling. Some day when we see Jesus walking up to us we will sob. We will be undone. If a WWII vet can make the tears well up in my eyes for the small sacrifice he made for my finite freedom, what will my seeing my Savior do to me. I can't wait but I can tell you this, I will be a mess. This was the first time I realized how much I will need a handkerchief in heaven. If you see one in my coffin you will know why. I realize the Bible says there are no more tears in heaven but I think tears of gratitude and joy are a different kind of tear. I think they will be as welcome as we are. So, here's to how sacrifice heals our hearts and brings tears to our eyes. Some day I will mouth the words "thank you" to the One who deserves it the most. It may be the only thing I can say for an eon or two.