A tribute to Paul Wells

Love In Action |  A Tribute to Second Lieutenant, Paul Wells

My Grandfather, Paul Wells who died just 2 years before I was born, was drafted into the Army in 1942, attended officer candidate school and was commissioned a second lieutenant. Sadly, I was never acquainted with my Grandpa Wells.  I’m also not acquainted with the kind of courage it takes to stand on the front lines of a raging war and putting my own well-being at risk for the well-being of others.  When I think about the contributions of those who have stood in the gap, fought against social injustice, and defended human liberties, I am so filled with gratitude.  To think, the Bible says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  The truth is, those that serve our country display the greatest kind of love; the giving of one’s self. 

Love is bold.  Love is courageous.  Love is proactive.  It has been said that the opposite of love isn’t hate, but apathy.  The greatest challenged of our generation is the dismantling of indifference.  Those that have served and are serving our country give us all something greater to aspire to, love in action.  For some, it may not be in joining the armed forces and defending our great country.  But we all must join hand in hand and fight for the brokenhearted, the down and out, the friendless, the overlooked, and undervalued.  Though I never knew him, I am learning the greatest lesson of all from Paul Wells, the willingness to love others more than myself, and then actually do it.