I miss my husband. Every goodbye seems harder. November, his mobilization, grows painfully close. Soon he will live half a world away. Families shouldn’t live apart. This is not how it is supposed to be.
And yet, this is how it has always been. Throughout time, soldiers have hugged their children goodbye and marched off to war. We live in a broken world. A broken world where angry, hateful, greedy men send others to fight for land and power. A broken world where brave, selfless souls stand up and serve. They put their lives in danger not in spite of their families, but because of them. Defending freedom, home, and the very future of their loved ones.
Knowing that it has always been this way doesn’t ease the pain. It only compounds it. Now my heart doesn’t just ache because I will miss my husband, but it aches for all of the other loved ones who do. For all of the other family members throughout time who have pushed back tears and said goodbye.
Even for the Spartan wives who watched Leonidas and The Three Hundred march toward Thermopylae. “Come back with your shield — or on it.” They’d say. Showing how strong they were. Demanding heroism from their men. But, of course, they must have cried. They had to miss their husbands and sons. They must have hoped for a safe return.
But they lived in a broken world. A world where Persian kings sent countless men to fight and die trying to take Greece. A world where fearless hoplite soldiers sacrificed their lives to buy time. To buy freedom for their families… for the future.
That battle changed the world. Did that make it hurt any less. Did that comfort the ones left behind?
Will the battle that we fight today change anything? Will it be worth it? Does that make it hurt any less, does it comfort the ones left behind?
[Forgive me, I've waited for years to fit Ancient Greek military history into a post... Surely you want to hear about their ships of war... Right?]
I love you Amy.
Comment by cjbulls — September 26, 2006 @ 12:37 am
I was just reading about the 300 as their battle has now begun and they fight in the shade (because of the arrows overhead)on the plane today. Gates of Fire, a must read! Now go buy it, but wait until Amy puts a link to it on Amazon so we can make money from it:-)
Comment by Joel — September 26, 2006 @ 1:04 am
Thank you for the sacrificies you are making so I can live free in this country.
Comment by Debbie — September 26, 2006 @ 10:48 am
I’m so sorry. Wars and rumors or wars and more wars.
Maranatha!
And (((((hugs)))))) to you and your family.
Comment by SingingOwl — September 27, 2006 @ 3:14 pm
Just to put everything in perspective; there have been wars and rumors of war for centuries. Our country has never gone a generation without a major conflict. Not saying it isn’t the other, but don’t live like the world is ending tomorrow:-)
Comment by Joel — September 27, 2006 @ 9:26 pm
“Don’t live like the world is ending tomorrow”
Why not? Even if the world isn’t ending tomorrow wouldn’t we be better people if we lived like it was?
Of course I guess how one lives like there is no more tomorrow could vary greatly. It all comes down to the what one believes the consequences are of the world coming to an end.
One person may be spending money, partying and breaking hearts like there are no consequences while another may be straightening up, reaching out and changing hearts like there are real consequences. Which there are.
Comment by Jami Leigh — September 28, 2006 @ 9:02 am
I’m guessing Joel was talking about the financial aspects.
Comment by Amy — September 28, 2006 @ 9:55 am
Amy,
Tonite I too sleep alone.I find peace in the strength of my husband. This is is 3rd time in Iraq and it never gets easier. Thanks for the book references.
Tahnya Lee
Explosive Ordinace Disposal
mobile Unit 11
whidbey Island Wa
Us Navy
Comment by Tahnya Lee — October 14, 2007 @ 1:58 am