It was more than a week ago that I read a post on Facebook that moved me to tears. The post centered around a friend of mine (actually I know her through my cousin) that I haven't seen in several years. Her husband's unit who was deployed in Afghanistan had been struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Pakistan near the Afghan border. Tragically, three U.S.soldiers were killed in the explosion along with three students at a girls' school nearby and 70 others were injured. Legrand, my friend's husband, was one of two U.S. soldiers seriously injured.
As the days have passed, news of his injuries as well as the medical attention he has received both oversees and now in San Antonio has been steady and plentiful. Thanks to social media, an amazing support system has arisen for the family offering much needed prayer and love during this painful, difficult time. Carrie, my friend, has been an inspiration to me through these days. The strength of her faith is to be commended and certainly a gift from God to sustain her.
What the whole thing has done for me is to bring the reality of this war right back in my face. How easy is it to get caught up in the day to day minutia of life and forget about the sacrifices that our service men and women AND their precious families are making right now?
Episode 42: "Today I am thankful for... a willingness to serve on the part of our soldiers and their families."
Regardless of whether I agree with this war, our elected officials have entered us into this conflict. War needs combatants. And remember, we have no draft right now, so these combatants are sacrificially serving. For me, politics play no part in the gratitude I feel for those who serve. The bravery shown by the soldiers AND their families is beyond astounding.
So today, I am thankful.
For more information on Legrand's story visit: this site or this one.
2 comments:
Praying for your friends!!!!
good reminder, molly. thanks.
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