The parents of our nephew who is serving in Afghanistan came to dinner last night and we talked about the day and the expectations for tomorrow and of family serving in harms way.
Expectations are of the normal things that life brings, but also the ones in life that are profound to family by sharing joys and concerns.
Our nephew is a career military professional, an officer by both experience and time in the military and now a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
He leaves a family at home. A wife, a teenage daughter and a nine-year-old son, to say nothing of his Mother and Father and siblings. It is not a good time for a Father to be away, it never is, but our nephew’s deployment is indicative of our nation’s military families these days.
We ask much of our soldiers and their families. For the individuals in uniform, who have chosen the military as a career and probable service in foreign lands, it is always expected, but never desired. For the families of those who serve it is a different story.
As a country we ask these families for the sacrifice of self. We ask for willing separation from the human loves and likes of our soldiers and we as a country acknowledge little in appreciation for the innocents of choice; those who by circumstance of birth or marriage must endure the constant thought of a warrior in harms way.
What families do is worry in silence and often in private. Families smile and honor the choices of our soldiers. Families hug and pray and with pride and tears send our young and their leaders off to a battle that’s different from what war use to be.
The saying from the past is still valid today. "They also serve who only stand and wait."
My wish for my nephew is courage in his choices, wisdom in his leadership, peace in his heart, kindness in his confrontations and safety, not only for him, but for all the lives he cares for and leads in the service of his country. May the blessings of life be forever embedded in the beats of his heart until he and all return to the sacred ground of home.
1 comment:
I'm really wondering why you are coming up with this subject right now. Ok, your nephew..
But, the thing is, that our second son is about signing a contract with German armee. And if they really take him he will have to go to Afghanistan, too.
So, we as parents are really wondering if we do good in supporting his wish or if we better show him all the danger and fear he will experience.
He is still so young (21), is he able to see all the follow ups?
I really don't know what is right...
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