I just hung up the phone. It was an ordinary call. Except it wasn't. It was a 22 year old girl. She just moved to Hawaii with her husband and child and was purchasing a 2009 Ford Edge. She's a stay-at-home-mom. He works full time. At first glance, it would seem that this young family is living a pretty great life. But like so many of my Hawaii callers, this is their last stop before she and her child send a husband and father to Afghanistan.
I'm sobered by those calls every time I get one. I've gotten many calls from soldiers overseas who are either planning to come home soon or are trying to take care of their family by making sure their auto insurance is in order...most are younger than I am.
I honestly cannot imagine how difficult it would be to have a brother, sister, parent, spouse, or child fighting in a war. They really are heros to me.
There's a common sound in every soldier's voice I've talk to...there's a serious undertone, even in their joking.
I was walking through an airport last year and there was a group of men and women in uniform...I overheard one of them telling a civilian that they were going to be deployed soon...and I wondered, "How do you say, 'Thank you'"? Words suddenly seem so small. I guess we say it by honoring the freedoms they fight for...by exercising rights with respect, and not ignoring our duties as citizens...and saying the words, "Thank you" when we get the chance.
I still don't quite know how to say thank you for a life and family sacrificed for the freedoms of others. I just know that everytime I get a call like I did tonight, I'm so very proud of them and thankful for the price they pay every single day.
4 comments:
I agree. A couple weeks ago I was a at a Gold City concert and they had everyone who was in the military stand up while they sang a song about our country. I had tears in my eyes the whole time and wanted to go give each person standing a hug and a salute. But I didn't.
I was flying back to Florida yesterday after a week at home, and was depressed thinking about going back to Florida to start the the misery that is school.
Then I noticed all the soldiers heading off to who know where for deployments, or coming home from deployments. I then realized that it is much easier to be in Florida studying anesthesia than fighting a war. Especially for someone like me. I would last about 3 hours in Iraq.
What I find more sobering is when the soldiers come home, they have severe disorders (depression, cancer, disease) and then their lives are ruined and struggle in life the rest of the way. No help for them and in the end, nothing is really accomplished except that they helped the economy by going over to fight some made up war by some politicans (just like vietnam and every other war). Really sad. Hopefully this world comes to and end and God can spare the lives of many who waste it on fighting for to profit our economy.
I agree...I pray for our nation every day and for those that serve or nation!
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