Honor

My church (Bay Area Fellowship) just finished a series on Honor. My Pastor talked about the military and how vital their role was in our lives and I totally agree 100%. One of the other topics was honor in our day to day lives with regards to our spouse, kids, employer, ex-spouse or even someone who hurt us long ago. To honor someone is a God given command for your life. In regards to the people who we admire or love it is easy to honor them but with an ex-spouse or employer with no sense of right or wrong it becomes difficult. God still calls us to honor the person that has been put in authority over us. Now obviously if this person is asking you to break God's laws then you should consider that or if they are physically hurting you but in general you know what I mean.

On June 1st my bride and I went to San Antonio to attend a promotion ceremony for my friend that has earned the rank of Warrant Officer in the US Coast Guard. He is the first Warrant Officer in his rate ever in the over 200 year history of the USCG. His name is Jim Pitts and we joined the USCG in 1991 together with 2 other friends from our hometown. He is the only one that has remained in the USCG and at the ripe old age of 43 he will be eligible for retirement. I will be trying to figure out how to live with my daughter being 12 and he will be retiring.

The reason he has accomplished so much in the USCG is because he is a man of honor. He did more than he was asked and more than was expected consistently for the last 18 years. He has served under 4 Presidents and countless officers. He has never dishonored his leadership by talking about them in a negative way. He has served in some terrible places and seen some things that would keep you awake at night. He does not wear the uniform with pride in his accomplishments but rather a pride in the men and women that came before him and a responsibility to the ones that follow him. He is a man of very few words but exactly the one you want speaking for you in the position he now holds.

If there is an example of a man we want on that post protecting our freedom WO1 James G Pitts is that man and I am honored to call him my friend and my brother.