Remembering…

I read about an enlisted soldier who was walking along a Bavarian road. World War I was over. Germany was defeated and devastated. The land around him was scorched by the destruction of war. This little fellow decided to end it all. With the Fatherland finished, what was the point of living?

He came to a river, and he looked over a bridge railing to the icy waters down below. He decided to jump. He looked around again, and saw people aimlessly wandering about trying to find what was left of their homes. They were hungry. They were cold, and they were dressed in rags. He looked again at the water, and he observed only one person in the area. There was an old man fishing.

He jumped, and upon hitting the water he was knocked into unconsciousness. When he came to and regained consciousness, he found himself in a warm home drinking hot soup. The old man, the fisherman, said to him, “Drink this! I saw you fall, and I was barely able to save you…but I did. I understand you are heading for Munich. I can help you get a place there, for I have a friend.

The fisherman took the soldier’s identification card, penned a note, and then he dated it December 21, 1918. The note simply said…

Dear Benjamin,

As a favor to me, would you give food and lodging to this young man until he can find work?

His name is Corporal Adolph Hitler.

Your Friend,

Israel Cohen

Apparently, Hitler forgot the kindness of that old man…who was Jewish.

In this world in which we live, it is easy to forget the kindness and love of others!

That is why God sent His Son into the world – to help us remember the kindness and love of God towards us!

And what is it that we are to remember?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - Jesus, John 3:16

“The Son of God became the Son of Man to enable the sons of men to become the sons of God.” -C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity