When a disaster occurs anywhere in the world, America is there. Without a lot of fanfare, without a whole lot of chest-thumping, we just go and do the job. And more times than not, the might of our military is there to do the grunt work and the logistics work. And a lot of times, we get no thanks at all.
And when disasters happen here, many times we are on our own – not even a token display of help even from our closest "friends" (and if we did receive aid, I wish it was made more widely known). So when I read this, there was a "thank you" to their "thank you" that passed by my lips. From Op-For:
BESMAYA RANGE COMPLEX, Iraq, Nov. 20, 2008 – A group of Iraqi soldiers stepped up to help California residents victimized by recent wildfires raging throughout the state.
Iraqi army Col. Abbas Fadhil, Besmaya Range Complex commander, and his team of “Abbas’ Eagles” raised $500 for wildfire relief.
“We want to send a message to the American president and the American people,” Abbas said. “We feel that we are a family — one body. When one part of the body suffers, the other parts suffer, too.”
This is the fourth donation the soldiers of Besmaya have sent to the American people recently. In September, they raised $1,500 for victims of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The Eagles also donated $500 to the National Sept. 11 Memorial.
Five hundred bucks in Iraq is a lot of money. Folks, this money came from people who can ill afford it, yet they gave anyway.
Shukran, brothers.
Not a lot of money to US. But, as with the widow with two mites (Mark 12:41-44), it is the intent and follow through that counts.
