On April 12th, 10+ Intentionals decided to take off work and visit the Fort Wayne VA Hospital to Thank a Vet for their service to our community. Below is a report from those Intentionals.

War and fighting are regretfully a painful part of this fallen world.  Yet here in America, we go about our business day-to-day, taking for granted the safety by which we can travel, and the security in which we fall asleep each night.

All this is due to the countless men and women who have followed the orders of our nations’ commanders to protect and preserve our quality of living in America. 

But how many times do we stop to thank these heros?  How hard is it to say “Thank You” to a veteran?  How often do we pass a young soldier in uniform without telling him/her “Thank You”? 

Several Intentionals took a day to do just this – we ‘hung out’ in the Main Waiting room at the VA Hospital here in Ft Wayne, reached out to shake the hands and say “Thank You” to living heros.  It took just a moment to let these Veterans and many active duty soldiers hear 2 simple words full of so much meaning – Thank You. 

Those 2 simple words opened the door to several deep conversations between our volunteers and Veterans.  Acceptance and affirmation are 2 of the most basic needs that we all have.  We never grow out of those needs, but we all too often stop extending acceptance and affirmation to others.  This event, as simple as it was, was extremely meaningful to both us volunteers and the Veterans.  They needed and deserved to hear our words of gratitude and appreciation.  And we were changed by their stories that followed.  Several of our volunteers said we should be taking the time to thank our Veterans on a regular basis, and they are right!  

In the Waiting Room of the VA on that day, as Veterans were simply waiting to see their doctor, they received the healing power of appreciation, gratefulness, and listening ears for what they have done for each of us.

Romans 15:5-6  May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

** The Intentionals are not a “religious” group, but it is a driving force for some of our members in their efforts to show ultimate actions of kindness. Our members are about loving their neighbors well through intentional acts of kindness because it’s the right thing to do, not to fulfill their religious agenda.