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Key Bible Verse: Whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus … giving thanks … to God (Colossians 3:17). Bonus Reading: Psalm 66:8-12

Rooming with John Listemann at officers' school in Quantico, Virginia, I'd learned he was a Christian and a nice guy. Assigned to the same battalion at Camp Pendleton, I'd observed an aggressive, technically proficient leader.

On a December morning in 1965 in Vietnam, John and I went to war. His war lasted one day. Moving on patrol down a jungle trail, we rounded a corner and ran into an ambush. The first round, a 50-caliber round, hit his kneecap with a loud crack that threw him up in the air. As he dropped, the second round hit him below the heart and exited his side. I was also wounded, but nowhere nearly as bad. I saw John about 30 meters away on his back, his leg blown off. I crawled up to him to see if I could do anything. Before I could ask, he turned to me and said, "How are you doing, Chucker? Are you okay?" "I'm okay," I assured him.

"Are my men safe?" he asked. "John, your people are okay," I replied. As I looked on dumbfounded, he turned his head skyward and said, "Thank you, Lord, thank you. Thank you for caring for my people. Thank you for caring for me."

(We both survived, were evacuated, and I later became a Christian.)

—General Charles Krulak, U.S. Marine Corps (retired)

My Response: Have I expressed unexpected gratitude? What was its effect?

Thought to Apply: A really thankful heart will extract motive for gratitude from everything, making the most even of scanty blessings.

—source unknown

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Move me, Lord, beyond appreciation for desires granted to gratitude for all Your wisdom allows.

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