06/15/2026
And more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life.
That line from America the Beautiful hit me differently today.
Not because I was thinking about America.
I was thinking about Ukraine.
A few hours after singing that hymn in church, we watched 2000 Meters to Andriivka, a film built from real footage of Ukraine’s counteroffensive to retake the small village of Andriivka.
The film doesn’t glorify war.
It shows the cost of it.
The fear. The exhaustion. The loss.
So many lives were lost during that operation. Yet again and again, soldiers spoke about volunteering for the mission because of their love for Ukraine.
Not because they wanted war.
Because they wanted their country to remain free.
As I watched, I couldn’t help but think about a friend we affectionately call our Ukrainian brother.
The photo above was taken in Poland after he and his family fled Ukraine for safety.
At the time, it was simply a photo of friends spending time together.
Today, his family is back in Ukraine, and he is serving near the front lines.
He’s not a character in a documentary or a headline in the news. He’s our friend. A father. Someone we’ve shared meals with, laughed with, and worried about.
Knowing that he is serving while his children wait for him at home makes the sacrifices described in the film feel deeply personal.
And it makes those words hit even harder:
“And more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life.”
Today we’re thinking of him, and of the countless men and women who have sacrificed so much for Ukraine’s freedom. We’re also thinking of the families who wait, hope, and carry the weight of that sacrifice every day.
Watching this film and reflecting on the people we know has renewed our commitment to the work we do through Hope Across Borders.
We cannot stop the war.
But we can stand beside the people living through it.
We can support displaced families, encourage children, help communities rebuild, and remind our Ukrainian friends that they are not forgotten.
Because behind every headline is a person.
A father.
A child.
A family.
A friend.
Their courage deserves nothing less.
