Christmas 1944 and the Russian/Ukrainian War

Update from Buddy, missionary

“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Winston Churchill.

As this war has progressed, I have been struck by how many similarities there are to World War 2. It is as if Putin, on purpose, studied Hitler's playbook from that time and is running the exact same plays. From conjured reasons for invasion to the propaganda machine he runs, history is repeating itself.

And so, it appears, we haven't studied enough, or not at all, and the result is that we, indeed, have not learned.

However, some things that happened during WWII are worth repeating. One of them is a national urgency to pray. As I read about this long past 2nd world war in Europe, I see that there was a constant calling people to prayer. From the president's speeches to candles left constantly burning in churches and windows of homes, there was a sense of collective calling out to God. I am confident that not everyone that called for these prayers, nor all the people who prayed them were believers in Jesus Christ, but the point is that there was a national spirit that humbly and desperately sought for the assistance of the Almighty. Because of that, there was a sense that we were not alone and there was an undercurrent, however slightly felt, of the belief in His sovereignty.

That was true even among (and maybe especially among) those who were closest to the carnage, the blunt and seasoned soldier. I will remind you of a famous example:

During the holiday season of 1944, Gen. Patton's Third Army was bogged down in their advance against the Germans. Patton was bogged down as he was trying to reach Bastogne, a town in southern Belgium that held by 15,000 American troops but encircled by over 50,000 Nazi soldiers bearing down on it.

Unfortunately, due to the weather, Gen. Patton didn't have the air cover he needed to relieve the 15,000 brave American troops holding off the Germans.

That's when he decided to rely on the power of prayer.

Patton had Chaplain Fr. James O'Neill compose a card to be distributed to each one of the 250,000 troops under his command in the Third Army, and had all of the men pray this simple prayer:

“Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen.”

He then had this prayer printed and given to all his troops. The next day, the weather cleared, Patton's Third Army made its way into Bastogne to relieve the 101st Airborne, stymie the Nazis.

Copy of Patton's Christmas prayer given to all his troops during Christmas season 1944.

"If we forget what we did, we won't know who we are." — Ronald Reagan

Just so...this part of history very much needs not to be forgotten and bears repeating. In this last update for this incredible year 2022, my appeal to you is to pray. Sometime during this Christmas season, as you are worshipping, as you are enjoying, and you are reflecting, please pray concerning this war. 

HOW TO PRAY?

Pray first for peace. Pray for the victims on all sides. Read the prayers of David as he prayed against his enemies, and as you do this keep in mind the words of Jesus concerning our enemies. Remember the oppressed and the oppressor. Pray your heart, your feelings and emotions, God understands them all. And, in the end, pray again for peace.

It may be that America doesn't feel the real effect of the war in Ukraine because it is an ocean and a continent away and there are no Americans officially on the battlefield. If this is our mindset then it is a dangerous mistake. There is a Hitler-like tyrant surrounded by a "Hitleresk" regime in Moscow, but they have not sent troops, and bombs, and death into our backyards...yet. The Ukrainians are willing to fight this war, because it IS in theirs, and it is in their air that nuclear fallout will linger should things go that far. However, there should be coming from our shores intense, effective, and continuous intercession and invocation for God's help against the despot, not only for Ukraines sake, but for our own.

"If we fail to pray for the sons and daughters of Ukrainian mama's fighting in foxholes there today, we will certainly soon be praying for the sons and daughters of American mama's in the foxholes of Romania, Poland, the Baltics, and all across Europe." - Buddy Thigpen

If the war in Ukraine is not won on Ukrainian ground, by Ukrainians, we are naive to think that it will end and the oppressors will be sated. This regime has sights on further ground based on ideology that has been skewed by hatred. I say this fully aware that our own ideologies are skewed as well and we are in no place to have confidence in our own leadership. WE NEED GOD. One principle is clear throughout scripture and that is that God is for the oppressed and He is against the oppressor. It behooves us to call out to this God that this oppressor be stop within these borders.

Christmas tree in Kiev park. Lights burn on half the tree for one hour a night.

As we go through the first Christmas season of the Russian/Ukrainian war let's not forget who we are, as Reagan said, and, in this case, allow history to repeat itself, as Churchill said. We are Christians, we believe in a God who is not staggered by war and wants to hear the prayers of His people. War must humble us and take us to our weakened knees in order to find strength to stand another day.

Whatever else you do during this season, please take some time and pray for the peace of which He is Prince. That act will be enormously effective both for our world, our nation, and ourselves.

I truly wish for you a wonderful Christmas season. With Christmas comes a great sense of hope, love, joy, and this desire for peace. No matter what the year and no matter what the circumstances, it is great to be a child of the King we celebrate.

Until there is peace...