30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 11 - Veterans

if you want to know what makes me cry, you could probably guess the stereotypical ways and be pretty successful.

or, you could show me a picture of a soldier reuniting with his family (wife, child, mother-- it doesn't matter), and just get it over with.  seriously, i get all water-world up in here!  i cried just two weeks ago over a news clip showing a husband surprise his wife at a Chick-Fil-A.  i mean, seriously, people?! you HAD to air that on the news?!

i get it. i'm a wreck.  but at least, in this case anyways, for right reason.

i realized my patriotism sometime around sophomore year in high school.  i don't know if it was learned or innate, but something about the US of A just set right with my soul.  i guess a lot of it stemmed from spending the latter of my formative years (although, i would argue my mid 20's were more of such for me) growing up in a "September 11th" era (clearly used more as an adjective than a date).  i wore an american pin on my lapel every day of senior year, and a yellow ribbon tied around my ankle.  granted, i had an on-again, off-again relationship stint issue with a guy that decided to join the army shortly after 9/11, and maybe that sent me into overload.

i digress only to say, my heart bleeds for this country, and for the sacrifices made to keep it in tact.  now, i know there are a lot of things wrong with America.  in fact, an old close friend of mine used to argue that i was indeed a socialist; but i recognize and appreciate what this country has in terms of bravery, courage, values, and freedom.

my daddy was in the army.  my grandfather retired as a colonel in the marines, fought in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, and was awarded the Purple Heart.  my mama's hope chest has an old journal from a great, great, great+ uncle of hers that served with the confederate army.  this country is in my blood.

i am so thankful for the men and women that make a choice to fight for our nation.  who look fear and death in the face, and put their trust in the Lord that such a life is what He has for them.  men and women that say goodbye to their families and loved ones, and especially for those that never get the opportunity to reunite with them in this life.  i am grievous, yet thankful that they have sacrificed seeing the birth of their child, or tucking them into bed at night, so that one day, when i have children, i can do so without the sound of missiles being launched at my house.

it is a difficult decision for one to choose to join the armed forces, and one i've never faced so can't identify with.  but i also know it is a tremendous honor and privilege to live in a free country, unafraid of terrorism or civilian causalities during war.

thank you daddy, grand-daddy, and the whole host of Veterans out there.