Gratitude

Night before last I went to watch fireworks with my grandson. An odd thing happened while I was sitting there. In the background was the Lee Greenwood song, “God Bless the USA” and it took me back. When my kids were little we lived in Japan and Lee Greenwood came to our base to meet with service people and their families. He sang this song while he was there and it always brings tears to my eyes. That song and the fireworks combined created a powerful emotion within me. 

We lose people every day. But most people do not understand the military family. As a military person, you are away from your family sometimes for months on end. Sometimes you go through horrific things that you can’t talk to your spouse about and that creates a chasm between you. When the military spouse returns from an extended mission, they have to reintegrate into their family and that can be challenging. But…

The military also has an extended family. All the people in their unit become family. They celebrate holidays together, they help one another when spouses are away, they watch each other’s children when it is needed, they become a tribe. I think this is the best part of military life. You always have someone at your back.

When my husband died, our tribe stepped up. All of his closest friends helped get him home, and prepared for burial, and they helped us with our grief at the expense of their own. I can never come close to expressing my gratitude for these strong, brave men. 

So, the Lee Greenwood song hits me hard. But this time around, it really got me thinking and being so grateful for the life I’ve been given. Freedom isn’t free. We celebrate Memorial Day and the 4th of July with gratitude for those we have lost, for those that have experienced terrible things for our freedom and our rights to bear arms and to speak freely. 

Thank you! To all the military personnel and their families. These holidays are good reminders that we should always be grateful – not just to the military, but to those around us that lend a hand when it is needed, to those that see a need and fulfill it without being asked, for the smile given when we are at our lowest point, for the hug when we are breaking. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!

Lee Greenwood – God Bless the USA

 

Blessings – E