Patriots

Day 49. Kindness.

I changed the subject for today's post several times. I started off with Kindness, moved to Rebellion, then back to Kindness, then Patriots. Controversy in my own mind. Trying to focus on the positive and not the negative. The discussion is still the same, just the perspective is different. I still want to write about the goodness and not the evil.

We've all been reading about the terror events in the news. A beheading in the heartland of the US, several instances in Canada, shootings in California, another beheading in Long Island. What the hell is wrong with people? Well, a lot it seems. Apparently radical Islam has its teeth in the neck of young Americans and Canadians, and they are happy to oblige by killing fellow citizens. Not something I'll ever get used to, and none of us should. But as horrific as they have been, there's still good to be found.

Pictures of Canadian Nathan Cirillo's sweet dogs waiting at the gate for him to return are just heartbreaking. Knowing he was such a caring man that will be missed by many, I can't stop thinking about his son. He was a single dad to five year old Marcus, who proudly led the procession at his dad's memorial service. Even at his young age of 24, he was a strong family man with a sense of patriotism. He stood proud in service of his Country that day. The kindness his family has been shown by the people of Canada is a testament to his memory.

The places, the names, they may change, but the men and women that serve in uniform always share one constant: they are Patriots. They sacrifice many things to serve: time with family, having a home for more than a few years between duty stations. They are by no means richly rewarded in this life, but I hope they are in the next. We own them more than we can ever repay.

From Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, 19 November 1863: The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

That's all we can hope for, that the world never forgets. 


Lesson Forty Nine: Did you or someone you love serve in the military, and know the sacrifices they make every day? Do you have a healthy respect for them and their families, and understand what they do for love of Country? Think about what they give up, in spite of the fact that we surrender in other ways. Remember that freedom isn't free.

681 to go...