Skip to main content

Couldn't Wait to Hug My Vet

I couldn’t wait. It’s a day early but I gave my husband Dice, a Viet Nam Vet, his card with a great big hug. The card was perfect. The front read: “Thank you for serving in the Navy” over a photo of a naval fleet out at sea. Dice liked it. He pointed to an aircraft carrier ship, way too familiar, having served two tours in the South China Sea on a Carrier. He explained how the carrier was a vulnerable ship and was protected by other war ships as they all traveled together, just like on my card.



I was also able to give a warm hug to my friend Al, a veteran, while at lunch with him this week. My girlfriends honored him with a meal and we expressed our gratitude for all he continues to do for our nation’s veterans. Al, at 72, has fulfilled two-thirds of his childhood dream of walking across our great nation! In 2009, he walked from California to Ocean City, Md and in 2011, from Florida to Maine. Al pushes a cart decorated with flags and encourages veterans as well as firefighters and policemen in cities across the country. I enjoyed hearing the ways that the Lord protected this friendly man and met his every need by placing “just the right” person in his path along the way.




My favorite story is when Al met another veteran from Iraq who dressed every day in his clown uniform to entertain in civic presentations. Every day? “Yes,” he told Al. “I must put on my clown makeup to survive. I lost my two best friends who went to Iraq with me but did not return.” Al shared Jesus with him reassuring him that Jesus could restore his joy and he would not have to perform for it.

I know that some of my blogging friends are veterans or you have sons and daughters serving our country. I thank you today from the deepest places in my heart for your service and for keeping us safe.

Comments

  1. LoriNovember 10, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    I love that you wrote about appreciating veterans. I didn't think anyone even realized it was veterans day tomorrow - for some reason, there hasn't been much talk about it at all. and btw, Thanks to your hubby for his service! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. DeniseNovember 10, 2011 at 6:41 PM

    Thanks for such a sweet post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kathleen November 11, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    They are among the many unsung heroes in this great land. We'd not be so great without them!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MFEO2009November 11, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    aw, nice post. they all sound so inspiring. :)
    i have lost some family members to the war...gone, but not forgotten.

    ReplyDelete
  5. PeggyNovember 11, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    Say "thank you" to your veteran husband for his service. My dad also served in the Navy, in WW2.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Just Be RealNovember 12, 2011 at 4:37 AM

    Thank you for sharing such a wonderful tribute to our Vets. Blessings to you dear one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. lioneagleNovember 12, 2011 at 3:24 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. lioneagleNovember 12, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    Hi Mary -

    Thank you for this rich tribute.

    A salute to the soldiers!

    ReplyDelete
  9. SharonNovember 13, 2011 at 3:56 PM

    Thank you, Dice and Al. We really appreciate what you did for our country - what you did for us.

    We will never forget your contribution, and the unselfish way you fought for freedom.

    Thank you.

    GOD BLESS!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Deborah AnnNovember 14, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    My son just came home after serving in the Navy for 5 years. It was so nice of Applebee's to give free meals to the vets! I'm sure other restaurants did that too.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Memorial Day Reflection

  Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls.  Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts  run through my mind.  The journey of loss takes on various emotions.  The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness.  In a split second, I would forget he departed forever.  I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home.  My mind is realistic now.  He's not coming back.  There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars.  He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day!  And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...
21 comments
Read more

Mama's Lipstick

I always wished I could do things with my mom like shop in the mall, share makeup secrets or go to the movies and watch romantic comedies.  My wish never materialized.     My mama behaved like a tomboy.   She loved baseball and pitched with a strong right arm.   She could care less about the latest fashion or the latest movies featured on the big screen.   She never polished her fingernails.    One day after elementary school, I walked into the house to find my mom all dolled up in front of the bathroom mirror, foundation crème, powder, eyebrow pencil and rouge all over the counter sink.  “Who are you?” I asked, thrilled to see my mama putting on the Ritz.  Makeup in place and blotted, she immediately took it off.  “I don’t like the way it feels,” she exclaimed. She retired in Arizona and protected her dry lips with a light rose lipstick, the color of natural lips, a step above ChapStick.  She wore it a few tim...
55 comments
Read more

Book Review of Biblical Minimalism and Give Away

What does minimizing look like?  To the empty nester it may mean downsizing real estate.  To the co-dependent, it may mean pitching some toxic friendships they tend to collect.  I thought I had a handle on Biblical minimalism, but I wasn’t even close.  Biblical minimalism is much more than cleaning out a drawer and discarding unwanted things into a box to take to the thrift store. In her book, Biblical Minimalism, Cheryl E. Smith defines Biblical minimalism as “a complete, whole person release of anything unlike Jesus, a letting go of everything that hinders us from following Him wholeheartedly and single- mindedly , and a relinquishing of all that brings us under bondage to this earthly, very temporary life.” The author gives us a visual of a whole pie that is divided into eight slices.  Each slice describes our lives with areas to analyze to see if pruning or adjustment is needed.  I won’t name them all, but one example is the “emotional ...
9 comments
Read more