My compliments to this
Wife for speaking up.
We need more then one voice
out there praying for our Soldiers!
WIFES REQUEST
I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak
houses that you
find all over the country.
You know the type--a bucket of
peanuts on every table, shells littering
the floor, and a bunch
of perky college kids racing
around with long
neck beers and sizzling platters.
Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied
the crowd over the rim of my
glass.? My gaze lingered on a
group enjoying their meal.
They wore no uniform to identify
their branch of service, but they were
definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped
haircut, and that "squared
away" look that comes with pride.
Smiling sadly, I glanced across my
table to the empty seat where my
husband usually sat.
It had only been a few months since
we sat in this very booth, talking
about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East.
That was when he made me promise
to get a sitter for the kids, come
back to this restaurant once a month and
treat myself to a nice steak.
In turn he would treasure the
thought of me being here, thinking about
him until he returned home
I fingered the little flag pin I constantly
wear and
wondered where he was at this very moment.
Was he safe and warm?? Was his cold any better??
Were my letters
getting through to him?
As I pondered these thoughts,
high pitched female voices from the next
booth broke into my thoughts.
"I don't know what Bush is thinking about.? Invading Iraq.? You'd think
that man would learn from his
old man's mistakes.? Good lord.
What an idiot!? I can't believe he is
even in office.? You do know, he
stole the election."
I cut into my steak and tried to
ignore them, as they began an endless
tirade running down our president.
I thought about the last night
I spent with my husband, as he prepared
to deploy.? He had just returned from
getting his smallpox and anthrax
shots.
The image of him standing in our
kitchen packing his gas mask still
gives me chills.
Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts.
"It is all about oil, you know.
Our soldiers will go in and rape
and steal all the oil they can in the
name of 'freedom'.
Hmmm!? I wonder how many innocent
people they'll kill without giving it
a thought?? It's pure greed, you know."
My chest tightened as I stared at my
wedding ring.? I could still see
how handsome my
husband looked
in his "mess dress" the day he slipped
it on my finger.
I wondered what he was wearing now.?
Probably his desert uniform,
affectionately dubbed
"coffee stains" with a heavy
bulletproof vest
over it.
"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone.?
I don't think they are
hiding any weapons.
In fact, I bet it's all a big act
just to increase
the president's popularity.
That's all it is, padding the military
budget at the expense of our
social security and education.
And, you know what else?
We're just asking for another 9-11.?
I can't say when it happens again
that we didn't deserve it."
Their words brought to mind the war
protesters I had watched gathering
outside our base.
Did no one appreciate the sacrifice
of brave men and women, who leave
their
homes and family to ensure our freedom??
Do they even know what "freedom" is?
I glanced at the table where the young
men were sitting, and saw their
courageous faces change.
They had stopped eating and looked
at each other dejectedly, listening
to the women talking.
"Well, I, for one, think it's just
deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am
certainly sick of our tax
dollars going to train professional
baby-killers we call a military."
Professional baby-killers?? I thought
about what a wonderful father my
husband is, and of how long it would
be before he would see our
children again.
That's it!? Indignation rose up inside me.?
Normally reserved, pride in
my husband gave me a brassy boldness
I never realized I had.?
Tonight one voice will answer on behalf
of our military, and let her
pride in our troops be known.
Sliding out of my booth, I walked
around to the adjoining booth and
placed my hands flat on their table.
Lowering myself to eye level with them,
smilingly said, "I couldn't
help overhearing your conversation.
You see, I'm sitting here trying to
enjoy my dinner alone.
And, do you know why?
Because my husband, whom I love with
all my heart, is halfway around
the world defending your
right to say rotten things about him."
"Yes, you have the right to your opinion,
and what you think is none of
my business.
However, what you say in public is
something else, and I will not sit
by and listen to you ridicule MY country,
MY president, MY husband, and
all the other fine American men
and women who put their lives on the
line, just so you can have the
"freedom" to complain.? Freedom is an
expensive commodity, ladies.
Don't let your actions cheapen it."
I must have been louder that I meant
to be, because the manager came
over to inquire if everything was all right.
"Yes, thank you," I replied.
Then, turning back to the women,
I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal."
As I returned to my booth applause broke out.?
I was embarrassed for
making a scene,
and went back to my half eaten steak.
The women picked up their check and scurried away.
After finishing my meal, and while waiting
for my check, the manager
returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode.
"Compliments of those soldiers," he said.?
He also smiled and said the
ladies tried to pay for my dinner,
but that another couple had beaten
them to it.
When I asked who, the manager said
they had already left, but that the
gentleman was a veteran,
and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of
our boys."
With a lump in my throat, I gratefully
turned to the soldiers and
thanked them for the cobbler.
Grinning from ear to ear,
they came over and surrounded the booth.
"We just wanted to thank you, ma'am.
You know we can't get into confrontations
with civilians, so we
appreciate what you did."
As I drove home, for the first
time since my husband's deployment, I
didn't feel quite so alone.
My heart was filled with the warmth
of the other diners who stopped by
my table, to relate how they,
too, were proud of my husband, and would
keep him in their prayers.
I knew their flags would fly
a little higher the next day.
Perhaps they would look for more
tangible ways to show their pride in
our country, and the military who protect her.
And maybe, just maybe,
the two women who were railing against our
country, would pause for a minute
to appreciate all the freedom America
offers, and the price it pays to
maintain it's freedom.
As for me, I have learned that
one voice CAN make a difference.
Maybe the next time protesters gather
outside the gates of the base
where I live, I will proudly stand on
the opposite side with a sign of
my own.
It will simply say, "Thank You!"
To those who fought for our Nation:
Freedom has a flavor the protected
will never know.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Please pray for God's protection of
our troops and HIS wisdom for their
commanders.
Pass this on to as many as you think will respond.?
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.?
Protect them as they
protect us.
Bless them and their families for
the selfless acts they perform for us
in our time of need.?
I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and
Savior."
When you receive this, please stop for
a moment and say a prayer for
our ground, air and navy personnel
in every area of the middle east.
Of all the gifts you could give
to anyone in the US Military, be it
Air
Force, Army, Navy, Marines or National Guard,
Prayer is the very best
one.....Amen!
|
|
|
 
 |
 |
ŠLuvdalot Graphics & Design, 2003-2005
|
|
