Dear Soldier,
Words tend to fail me at times like this. Your willingness to serve our country leaves me with a lump in my throat that renders me speechless and paralyzes my fingers so that I can't even express my gratitude in written words. It's easier for me sometimes to just not think about it, because when I do, my emotions overflow.
I stand in awe of your spouses. And your children. And your mothers. And your fathers. And your friends. Because they let you go to places that breed affliction and exhaustion and pain just so that my family can continue to complain about mundane things like air conditioners going out and the gallon of milk spoiling in the fridge. If they are lucky and get to go with you, you cart your families all over the world so that I can stay here in the middle of nowhere complaining that Walmart is 20 minutes away. Or as is most often the case, your family goes without you for sometimes years at a time, just so that I can stay here in comfort and complain when my husband leaves me with the children for a couple of days to go on a business trip.
You're underpaid. And under-appreciated. And under-noticed.
So today, dear soldier, I want to say Thanks. Thanks for doing what the rest of us aren't brave enough to do. For doing the things that the rest of us find easier to sit around and debate; but you decided to get up and do something about. For putting up with the ridiculousness of us, the ones that you are putting your life on the line for. For uprooting yourself and your families all in the name of keeping my family free.
This weekend my family played together. And we laughed together. We spent time with friends. We ate hot dogs and grilled burgers. We ran up our water bills playing in sprinklers. And we stood with other Americans just being proud and patriotic and privileged.
And we owe it all to you. And the soldiers that stood before you. And the soldiers that will follow you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Because these smiles are a result of your allegiance.
Did I mention Thank You?
One more won't hurt. Thank You.
Love Always and With Gratitude Spilling Over,
Amber in Arkansas
10 comments:
oh my sweet girl. what beautiful words you have today...
looks like you all enjoyed your freedom quite nicely this weekend...what a beautiful gift, isn't it??
And may I say you look too darlin' in the pics...love the one of your fam all together!
beautiful post...
So beautifully written ...
Very well said, and THANK YOU from a deployed soldier's wife. :)
I could add nothing more...except my thanks to them and to you for saying this so eloquently.
Thank-you, from a soldier and his proud wife.
Love you!
This brought tears to my eyes. Wow, girl. Beautifully said.
And you look adorable. Love your shirt! (top, blouse, whatever it's called--all I have are t-shirts!)
Thank you, from the lucky wife of an AMAZING Soldier!
Wow! Just wow! You said that so beautifully!!!
I needed to read this today.
I'm not in the mood to do the move thing again this summer. This reminded me of why we do it.
And it also reminded me to quit griping because I'm blessed at this point in my and my children's life to have my husband in the same city with us. Many, many military families don't have that blessing right now. Including my niece whose husband is fighting for us in the MIddle East right now.
I needed to be reminded of this. Thank you.
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