Love is not a feeling. Love is a sacrifice. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples the night before He died. He knew what was coming. He knew the cost. And He laid down His life willingly. Veterans know something of this love. They signed up. They trained. They deployed. They put themselves between danger and the ones they loved. Some gave everything. We gather today to honor their sacrifice and to say thank you. We also gather to remember that the ultimate act of love was Jesus on the cross. He laid down His life for us. He gave everything so that we might live. This week, we will reflect on the cost of freedom and the love that makes sacrifice possible. We will thank God for veterans and for Jesus, the One who gave His life for the whole world.