MY UTMOST RESPECT

With Veteran’s Day quickly approaching it is rather timely and fitting that I felt inclined to share these thoughts with you this week.

 

I have a growing respect for those men and women who choose to be involved in the military, law enforcement and as first responders; those who willingly sacrifice so much to fight for and protect our freedom.

This same respect rings true for all those that have been involved in any aspect of those areas in years past.  I salute you and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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Growing up I never knew anyone in close proximity to those ideals so it was something I never really thought about too much.

It seems that often happens in life, right?

Unless you, personally, or a loved one or even an acquaintance that you know well is involved in either a situation like that or even a health issue like cancer you don’t really think much about it.

Once something hits “home” you are more deeply aware of what the people are going through and possibly the heartbreak and sacrifices it embodies.

 

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Recently one of my cousin’s daughter went through basic training for the Air Force and I was following her story of the agonizing days of waiting and wondering how she was holding up.  She did very well and it was great when the family was reunited after basic training.

 

 

 

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Our family has known a young man who was friends with my youngest son since about the time the boys were six years old. In fact, the boy’s dad was also a baseball and basketball coach for many years to my son.

 

Playing with frogs in the bathtub!

 

Fun in the rain at a running event

 

This past June, this young man graduated from high school and chose to pursue a career with the Air Force.  Just a little over a month ago, he left for basic training.

I think often of him and his family relating to what they are enduring being separated from each other kind of at a young age. The hardest part for the young man and his family, as well as my cousin, is that they rarely have contact with each other.

 

 

Naturally it is a part of the rules for basic training that cell phone usage is banned so the people can keep their focus on the necessary training for boot camp. Think how tough of a thing that must be especially these days when our phones are basically glued to us, where we have instant access to anyone and anything all the time.  We are all so used to always being connected or plugged in.

What sacrifices are made by the whole family; the parents and siblings that are suddenly left alone wondering how their relative is doing.  The young adult is going through all of this sacrifice in order to eventually serve our country…to protect our freedom.

 

Eventually, there is always the possibility these young adults will be deployed, possibly overseas.  What a huge sacrifice on both the person involved as well as their family.

Families being separated for so long; men and women sometimes seeing such destruction before their eyes, sometimes even losing their best friends/family in wars. What a huge sacrifice!

 

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Recently attending the Police Academy graduation, that one of my nieces was a part of, made me stop and think about going into such a profession.  Watching a video of the “boot camp” for that brought the reality of what they endured during the six months of camp to life for me.

The physical strain of the workouts, the mental strength they must display, experiencing all the different facets of what they might need to do to people like pepper spray in the eyes, being attacked, tasered,  etc. must be so difficult.  Suffice to say I’m just glad I have not had to experience that!

Surviving boot camp is a major accomplishment in any of these realms for which the people should be very proud of their hard work!

 

 

Thinking about the work my niece will be doing is a bit intimidating to me and I give her a big shout out for her willingness to step out in such a profession in order to protect our lives and seek justice.

Yes, I highly respect the people who choose to put their life on the line in order to protect our rights as citizens whether it be a branch of the Armed Forces,  some type of law enforcement or a first responder.

From the bottom of my heart I offer a huge thank you to those past, present, and future who serves our country in any capacity and to your families for their sacrifices too!

 

 

As I was reflecting further, it occurred to me that God knows exactly how these people and their families feel…..

God chose the ultimate sacrifice in sending His only Son, Jesus to this earth; sending Him away for a time though God was always with Him.

And then Jesus willingly chose, sacrificed His own life, to die on the cross for you and me to carry out God’s will.

Yes, Jesus put His life on the line for you and me!!

 

I have the utmost respect for God and Jesus~and I am so truly thankful for that ultimate sacrifice.

 

 

But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.  –Romans 5:8 (CEV)

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  –John 15:13 (CEV)

This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for others!   –1 John 3:16  (GNT)