Having been raised in a Military home, Dad was a Naval pilot for 28 years, and having lived thru my brother's deployment to Kuwait as a Marine...it should not have come as a big surprise that a child of ours would decide to join the United States Army. But it did...and the feelings that go with it continue to overwhelm me.
Not a day goes by that I am not incredibly proud of our son's decision to serve this country. But I am astonished by how much emotion I feel every time I see a uniform in the mall or in a video, or in a movie...a really good commercial can bring tears to my eyes. A dear friend of ours, whose own son recently returned from Afghanistan, told me that joining this 'club' would change everything for us.....and it has.
We are so proud of our son Sam. We are so thankful for his service to this country. And we pray every day for his safety and the safety of his fellow soldiers.
Thank a Veteran today.
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5 comments:
Thank you for posting this! We are proud of Sam, too!
It's uncomfortable to always talk about "me" when I comment on posts, but in this case I have to do it.
I have been a crier for many years. I cry at supermarket openings. I cry at Kodak moments. But the things that bring me to tears very, very fast are patriotic and military vignettes, such as this one.
I cry every time, even after all these years, at Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American". Just Tuesday at my DGD's Veteran's day concert, I cried again when the fourth graders started singing it.
I cry at flyovers, especially "the missing man" formation.
Years ago I tried to figure out why I cried at these military sacrifices and patriotic moments. It occurred to me that I was being touched in this very deep way because I related the sacrifice of the men and women of the military with the sacrifice of Christ. Just as Jesus laid His life down so that I could be free from enslavement to sin and the deadly consequences, these sons and daughters of great American parents willingly put their lives on the line to keep me free from the consequences of enslavement by foreign powers.
There are ways this comparison falls apart, but deep in my heart, when I see a fresh-faced soldier like Sam and know that he has made the choice to protect the people of his country, I am overwhelmed with gratitude not only by his sacrifice for me, but His as well.
There is just a connection in my heart between the two. Guess that's the best way to say it.
...and I cry when good freinds leave heartfelt comments....thanks gals.
Thanks for keeping us safe, Sam! Prayers for your health and safety.
Vaya con Dios to our service men and women.
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