My Patriotic Heart

My patriotic heart is full and showing today. I am filled with lots of emotions and they tend to run high. I am reminded lately and frequently by a dear friend "They made a choice to serve" when I express myself. You know what? "I make my own choice to express my emotions on how much the guys who serve in our armed forces mean to me and how much I really do have a caring heart for them all. I wear it on my sleeve and I don't care who likes it or doesn't like it. Sure they make the choice to serve but that doesn't mean they do not need kind words and gentle thoughts and hearts that care for them daily." I am a 37 year old white American woman. I am born in this nation purely by the grace of God. His purpose for me, I do not know, but I am here and all my life that I can remember I have asked him to use me as a vessel for his will. It is, I believe, our only purpose for existance. I live in a country where I have the privilege of choosing who I marry or who I will not marry. I choose the number kids of have, not a government. I can vote, hold any job I am qualified for. I can speak my mind and don't have to live in fear. I choose how I serve God and have the honor of worshipping openly without a penalty of death. The constitution gives me more rights and privileges than I can name. I know who it is that ensures I get to live those rights each and every single day. If there is nothing else I know, I know freedom is not free. It comes with a price and that price is the shed blood of men and women who serve this country. You all know I don't believe women belong in the military in combat situations. but I have enough to respect to say thank you to them for the jobs they do. I am guilty of saying "men who serve our country", just know I don't forget there are women who serve too. I know who I am to be greatful to. I know who deserves my respect. There are so many people in my thoughts and in my heart, I simply cannot rest. I care for you as deeply as I do my own blood relative. You are like family to me. You are important to me. You make me happy. I am so blessed to have you in my life. I found this in my journal, dated 17 March 2003. It is as honestly felt today, right this minute, perhaps more so in many ways, as it was the morning I wrote it. This morning as I drove to work, made my way out to the main highway, I sat as traffic passed until it was clear to make the right turn and pull out heading south. As I sat, cars and small trucks passed, the rains poured, and in the long lines of traffic came heavy equipment trucks loaded with military feild equipment. Truck after truck heading south. I wondered how many people even knew the significance of these trucks or thought about the lives who sat behind the wheel. As I entered town and drove through, passed the armory, men in camo and black berrets milled about, some crossed the street and walked over to a fast food restaurant. I wondered if anyone payed attention to the significance of their presence and I wondered if anyone thought about those men as being sons, brothers, fathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, cousins, bestfriends .. to people we don't know. I wondered how many people are intelligent and cognitive enough to realize the events that have begun to unfold and if there is any recognition that history is being marked and events can and will effect our nation for a good part of the next half century. Even more, sadly, I wonder how many of those people even care about the soldiers who are performing their duty and honor to their country. We Americans have been very gung-ho about voicing our opinions in support of war, but I wonder how many of those who speak the loudest for one moment think about the personal sacrifice of those who actually carry out such plans... Please know it is with my most humble gratitude, deepest sincerity, that I wish you all well. God bless you and keep you safe. May He grant you grace and mercy. May He give you strength of heart, peace of mind and courage in adversity. May He give those you leave behind the peace that passes understanding and they remain faithful, loyal and true. God bless you all who serve. Thank you for letting me live in freedom and not demanding of me to give as much as you do for the privilege of being American. I believe we all have a place and for those of you who serve, I am best at supporting your efforts. lean on me when you are not strong for I will never think of you as weak. Let me be your strength when you are defending my freedoms and let me be your shelter when the storms of war have left you worn. It is all I have to give and I give it freely. Thank you for every moment you have sacrificed to ensure that we, as a people and a nation live in freedom. Thank you for protecting and ensuring the dignity of Old Glory. Thank you for your service to our country. You are the reason, as those who came before you, that my children grow up in a world of peace. For that, there is nothing that I can say to show my gratitude enough. Simply, thank you ....