A mother’s view of Veterans Day.
Since two of my four children have enlisted in the army, I have viewed Veterans Day in a new light. Don’t get me wrong, I have always honored and respected it. My father who is a Vietnam Vet has always taught me a great reverence for our military. I have buried two uncles who served in the Korean and Vietnam War. Their memorial service was rich with honor and tradition; taps, flags, a gun salute and a pride that you could feel tangibly, rested on the sacred services.
However, my perspective has changed a bit. I mean, how could it not? With two boys serving in the Afghan war, news reports of yet another soldier wounded or worse killed is enough to change anybody’s idea of Veterans Day. Layered with the sweet concern of friends and family wondering how they are doing, mixed with the sleepless nights of vigilant prayer for my sons and their unit, have brought the colors of the Red, White and Blue closer to home than ever before. And now the biggest part of the Star Spangle Banner, my own son home, wounded from war, recovering from a head injury. He is out of my reach physically but not out of my heart.
To see the “Invisible” wounds that my boys and others have sustained wrenches at my very core. I have witnessed their cost up-close and personal. I carry their sacrifice with a pride that only a mother could feel. I can see the Glory of God on the enlisted men and women. I can see their own pride that they feel because of their service and sacrifice. I comprehend the word “Honor” in a fuller understanding. Which brings me to this: Right now at this moment I am spending my “freedom of speech” that my boys are fighting for. I am practicing the right of an American and that right is being protected by my flesh and blood. And for years I took it for granted until I understood the price that has been paid by our enlisted. As I peck away at this keyboard, my children carry weapons to protect and defend that privilege. One heals another still fights, and I am in a safe, warm home, sipping my lattes and caring for my other two children as they spend their freedom going to college, going to church and praying for their brothers. My mother’s heart wraps around this daily. I am more grateful for my freedom than ever before and at times feel guilty for it as well. Maybe that sound weird to you but look at it this way: if your children bought you dinner out of their hard earned money, you would feel pride, gratitude and maybe a bit of parental guilt they spent money on you. Magnify that by 1000, I am spending “freedom” my children are paying for.
Its ironic really, they are risking their lives so I can pray for them freely. And pray I do! I squeeze every ounce of my liberty to pray for my family and the ones defending the right for me to “Trust in God”. I endeavor to use my strength to stand watch for those that stand watch over our country. (God give me the strength to continue that Stand of Faith)
Happy Veterans Day friends. Would it be to bold of me to ask you to spend some of your “Freedom of Speech” to thank a veteran? And would it be too daring for me to ask you to use your “Freedom of Religion” to pray for those who are defending that right? Would you stand in faith with me until all are home and all are whole?
