Saturday, July 5, 2008

Dear Soldier,

While we were celebrating our freedom,
You were defending it.
While we were shooting off fireworks,
You were experiencing war.
While we were eating barbeque and relaxing around the table,
You were sitting in the dirt eating an MRE.
While we were laughing with family,
You were crying because you couldn't be with yours.
While we were thinking about ourselves,
You were thinking of others.

The sacrifices you make are great and I'm thankful for you every day of my life. I sometimes take my freedom for granted, but the closer it hits to home, because I know some of you personally, the more I don't. I am thankful for you, thankful for the sacrifices you make for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

To my friends down range, and their families here on the homefront,
What you do every day of your life matters. You are not forgotten and my prayers are with you. Thank you for serving. I miss you and pray God's protection be upon you every moment of every day. I know the sacrifice is great being seperated from each other and I know the pain you are going through and I just want you to know how grateful I am for your willingness to defend our nation and to minister to our soldiers.
I love you!

Tor those who have served down range and are now back on the home front,
Thank you! Thank you for the sacrifices you have made and continue to make. I know that your life is forever changed by what you experienced there. I am praying for you every day and know that God will see you through. My future son in law is one who served 15 months in Iraq. Thank you, Skyler. I love you and I pray God continues to bring healing to what you experienced there. We are here for you every step of the way, and we're so grateful that God placed you in our family. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

To my husband and son,
I love you so very, very much and pray for you as we never know if you will have to serve down range. The thought of it is almost more than I can bare, but I am grateful for the strong men that you are. My prayers will be many, hoping that day never comes for either of you, or for Skyler again. I am so very, very proud of all of you and all that you stand for. You are wonderful, godly men and our military is blessed to have you. Thank you for serving.

4 comments:

LAURIE said...

Laura,
that was absolutely beautiful. I too am so grateful for their sacrifice. We just don't comprehend what our lives would be like or could be like without our troops defending us now and in the past. GOD BLESS AMERICA! - Blessings, Laurie

Anonymous said...

Laura,
I am the wife of a soldier currently servng in Iraq who has heard the call to become a Chaplain. I am thankful for your blog as it has helped me express to him what his service to God and Country means to me.

Laura said...

Kimberly,

Thank you so much for the sweet comment. I would love to talk more. Feel free to leave a comment with your email and I won't post it. Praying for you as your husband is down range. I know it is very difficult.

Laura

MaryLu said...

Well said, Laura.
Bear was working this weekend with ROTC cadets and missed the festivities. (Land Nav, or some such thing.)
I was thinking similar thoughts as we sat around the fire pit and toasted marshmallows, they were out in the field having MRE's.
Your words bring tears to my eyes nearly every time.