PLEASE READ

Something hit very close to home this week.

I have debated for several days about whether I wanted to post this.

I went back and forth with myself until I decided there would be no peace of mind till I did.  

Let me begin by saying that by the grace of God, my son is safe.   As an army parent you drink a confusing cocktail of love, pride, and intense fear daily... and it can be pretty hard to swallow.  I lurk on facebook watching for that beautiful green ball next to his name indicating that he is online for chat.  I can breath again until it disappears, and I know he is off on a mission.  Let's just say it has been a long nine months.  Each morning you pray that you won't get THE DREADED VISIT.  My heart is breaking for the parents who did get the visit this week - the visit telling them that their sons were dead. Incredibly brave men who sacrificed their lives to protect others in their group.

HEROES

And I guess I haven't been able to let this go because of how so many young people view this word.  To me, it doesn't mean athletic prowess or a powerful businessman or a talented actor or rock star.

It means men and women who put their lives on the line like it is just another day at the office.

 It means the sacrifice of drawing fire on yourself to protect those whose lives are depending on it.  

It means a courage so strong that a life is given without hesitation to try to rescue a fallen brother. 

COURAGE * HONOR * SACRIFICE

And it happens every day.  

I have avoided looking at military sites that give the casualty reports.  Because I could list "worry wart" on my resume, it was just better not to go there.  And certainly the media doesn't cover even a fraction of it unless it is something "different" like the blue on green attacks.  If I am being honest, (before I was an army mom), I am ashamed to say I just didn't pay all that much attention.  

When you look at sites like this, you get a much more realistic and horrifying picture of what goes on pretty much every single day.  Go ahead and take a look at it - take a good look at all those faces and think about the loved ones they leave behind.  

So what is the purpose of this post?

To give you a real and uncomfortable look at the sacrifice made for our safety and freedom.  And to ask you:

 to thank a soldier, 

to encourage you to get them a cup of coffee (or a soda) at the airport - chances are they haven't had a lot of sleep, 

to ask business owners to hire a veteran, 

or to get involved with great organizations like The Wounded Warrior Project, Operation Gratitude, or Honor Flights which give our WWII vets a chance to see their memorial in Washington D.C. 

But most of all, to PRAY for the families who have lost something precious beyond words.

And PLEASE pray for the safety our of troops who are deployed.  

If this touches your heart, please pass it along.

Thank you and much love,

Lisa

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