"A Memorial of Her"

"Memorial of Her... "
Deanna Nielsen
Veteran: Deanna Nielsen
Submited by: Lynn SuDate
Submited: 3/30/2005

I joined the military in 1975 as an enlisted person. I received my commission to be an officer when I graduated from nursing school in 1976. I didn’t become commissioned for about a year, so in 1977 I became an officer. I was an enlisted person in another unit, but I had been with the 328th General Hospital after I transferred over as an officer. I was in the 328th when they called us to Desert Storm.
We were going to have a family portrait that year and I was making the girls all the same dresses. I knew that it was probably the last year that Natalie would wear the same dress her younger sisters would wear. I really wanted to have a picture like that. So I was in the middle of that and I received the news. Of course, I was crying. I couldn’t think of being separated from my children and my husband. Its not that I didn’t want to go and serve my country, but a lot of emotions were raging through me. . . . . .

This was a part of a story I found while searching for veteran stories online this morning. It was a good example of the sacrifice that has been made by thousands of medical staff to care for the wounded in our military. I thought I would talk about the lives of those that care for the dying and share some scriptures with you today. Join me!

We usually spend this day each year praising and thanking our military for the willingness that it took to give their lives and we take time out of our busy schedules to show appreciation to the families of those who lost their grandsons, sons, fathers and grandfathers in past conflicts. What I have realized while reading today is that I have forgotten many times to honor the ones who were behind the scenes; those endearing people that spent their life caring for the dying.

It is so interesting to find today, while doing a word search for the word "memorial" on my e-sword program, that "memorial" is found 31 times in the Bible and that it is actually mentioned by Jesus himself shortly before He is crucified! I would have thought that Jesus may have been speaking of His own remembrance or telling the crowds in the hours before His death how one day He would be honored across the globe, but I was quite shocked at what I did find!
As I opened one of the scriptures in Matthew, I didn't see Jesus talking about his disciples, his family or even about what great act He would soon acomplish that would allow man the grace and forgiveness by His very blood shed on the cross.
What was it that Jesus told his disciples in Bethany while dining at the house of Simon who was a leper? Hold that thought! Again I am surprised that the one we call our "Lord and Savior" would be spending His LAST HOURS on this earth with a man that had hands and feet that were probably nubs and smelled with the smell of rotting flesh! What kind of Savior do we worship anyways? Do we really demonstrate the love of our Savior?
I must humbly admit, I do not come anywhere close to this act of love and caring that Jesus was demonstrating for the Disiples and His followers today. Jesus made sure that this was recorded in the Bible because what happens next is even more enlightening. We get to see just what Jesus found to be important, enough so that He even says that it will be mentioned forever as a memorial.
If you have your Bible handy, look with me at Matthew 26:6 so you can make notes to remind you later. Let's read,
Mat 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
Mat 26:7 There came to him a woman having an alabaster-box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head as he sat at table.
Mat 26:8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
Mat 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Mat 26:10 When Jesus understood it, he said to them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Mat 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

Now isn't it just like a committee to figure out another way for someone to do something when this woman just did what God had laid on her heart? I don't know how many times I have shared with someone at a church something God impressed me to do and they said "Don't you think it would be better to just stick to what your doing and support the ones who do that already financially? I believe this passage is a very good example of Jesus teaching concerning this type of people and His appreciation for the servant who follows their heart.
Let read on in verse 12,
Mat 26:12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
She was caring for the needs of Jesus time to come. Wether she knew this or not, I don't know but one thing is for sure, God knew and Jesus seemed to understand what was happening here. Something else I thought about when I read this verse wasthat from this moment on Jesus carried this fragrance with Him. IT WAS In HIS HAIR! Have you ever got something in your hair and you kept smelling it? A good example is when you go into a restaurant where alot of people are smoking. You can smell that smoke until you shower and wash it out and even then you may have to wash twice. Our hair contains lots of calcium and calcium is very absorbent!

Jesus knew that He would smell like flowers when He sat at the last supper.

Jesus knew He would smell like flowers while He spent HOURS with His disciples in the garden praying.

Jesus knew he would smell like flowers when Judas kissed Him on the cheek.

Jesus knew that the aroma in His hair would rub off on the cheek and hair of Judas and linger not only in his sense of smell but his conscience long after he had betrayed his Lord.

Jesus knew that the aroma would fill the courts when he stood before Pilot to be judged!

Jesus knew that the smell would fill the courtyard when his sweat began to roll from His pores as the beatings began.

He knew that the robe that was devided between the guards at the foot of the cross would carry the sweet aroma of the small box of perfume that was broken and poured upon His head by the lady who loved him and felt compassion so strong to give of her prized possession; the valuable ointment.

In His final breaths Jesus could inhale this scent and remember that it was for His love of this woman that He gave His life that would free her from the bondage of sin.

How special are the ones that give their all to care for the dying?

Lets read the next verse and see!
Mat 26:13 Verily I say to you, Wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, which this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Whoa!!! I had to look again! I couldn't believe this when I saw it! A sacrifice of love was performed while Jesus was preparing for the hours ahead and Jesu said, " Wherever the gospel will be preached IN THE WHOLE WORLD, what this woman has done will be told for a MEMORIAL of her!"

God gave this woman worldwide recognition for her compassion and care for the dying and her story will be told as a Memorial of her. Never feel as though your small deed or act of kindness goes unnoticed by God. he died for our freedom and that says alot about your life and what you do with it each and every day!
Let's remember the lives of the men and women spent caring for the dying today when we memorialize the veterans. THANKYOU doctors, nurses, medics and all involved in the medical care of our citizens who engaged in conflict for the freedom of America.

If you'd like to read the full article of Deanna Neilsen you can click on the link below. You will find many more stories there as well of those that have given of their lives to care for others.

http://nursing.byu.edu/Nursesatwar/archive_story_read.asp?storyid=93