I live in a part of this great country of ours....
Where young men are esteemed because they go on church missions.
And to be honest--I've grown to appreciate an organization that can take a hormonal, immature, irresponsible young man away for two years, and bring back a Man ready to work, make a family, and take care of his community.
Where young men are esteemed because they go on church missions.
And to be honest--I've grown to appreciate an organization that can take a hormonal, immature, irresponsible young man away for two years, and bring back a Man ready to work, make a family, and take care of his community.
But I've also noticed in this same part of the country that the ignorance of what young men sacrifice in our military so that this SAME area of the country can exercise it's religious freedom is at times appalling to me. And it is nowhere near the sacrifice that a young man on a mission experiences.
When a young man signs up to protect our country, they give up a lot. For life. Admittedly, they don't always know this until many years later. The military can be a fantastic way to get college paid for. To get life skills. To get veterans benefits.
But what these young men lose is never worth what they have been paid. Even non combat veterans come "home" with loss--physical, emotional, plain 'ole time. These guys give up years and years of time away from people and places to serve our country and to keep us safe. They literally trade their own bodies for our protection.
And every man I've known who has voluntarily enlisted--my Husband, my Dad...had a deep, inward drive...to do what is right, for the greater good, at any sacrifice to himself.
These are the kind of men who should be esteemed. Applauded. Appreciated. Honored. Pedestaled. This is what we teach our kids. This is what we teach our son. That this is what real men do--they sacrifice.
I hope you will take some time out of your day, today, and honor a veteran. Because they deserve it.
