via TJC (Intro)
“ You took my side, Master and brought me back alive”, “Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living, and reorder our lives’ under God” Lamentations 3:58 and 3:40
This week’s authors have served in the military, deployed, and thought about the potential of dying in combat. Often a letter was drafted, and left with a friend, with instructions to share it with our loved ones if we didn’t make it home.
Of course, we shared that we love them, wished we could be there to see kids grow up, shared our faith in Christ and hoped they would do the same. And we wanted them to know a little bit about where we were at personally and mentally stepping into the valley of death, and emotions or even advice we always thought we might share at the right time.
The thoughts shared this week have now been worked through as we returned home; the letters thrown away and never shared, and the men have been asked if they were true to what they expressed stepping out, Not an easy assignment, so your grace reading is requested.
What I remember writing…
“My wife, beautiful daughter, and amazing son,
If you are reading this letter, I didn’t make it home to you. I wrote this so you would have some last words from me in the hope they would console you and know how much I love you.
I’m so proud of our unit, and the opportunity to fly with motivated and well-trained friends, who know that we need to hit our targets, so that the Army’s advance doesn’t stall. We are ready, I’m ready- I wouldn’t trade my assignment with anyone. We know that challenges lie ahead, and all plans don’t always work out the way we hope. But I’m so thankful that as a family we are together proud to serve and play our part in ensuring our freedom and way of life. Never take for granted the blessings all of us have, and the sacrifices many have made before for the opportunities we have had.
My wife – I couldn’t do this without you. You have made me a better man. You have supported me far better that I deserved and put up with more crap than we ever anticipated as youngsters jumping into this life. Thank you for being my wife and raising such a wonderful family. Don’t change – keep pressing on and I hope you will hear familiar sounds and think of me, but share your heart and grow old knowing your sacrifices were worth it as you see grandkids running across the yard. And when one of them does something really stupid, laugh as you say your just like your grandfather.
My baby girl – wow it’s been crazy watching you grow into a beautiful young lady. I know you will keep smiling, and talking to me, even if I’m not there. I think one of my favorite things has been the drives across town, where you could just carry on a conversation all by yourself. It's one of the few times I listened to someone and wasn’t thinking about what I wanted to say next. Besides you know me, and we're already addressing that 😊. Keep on dancing, and laughing on the toughest days as you will show the light and love inside and change everything around you.
My son – my dad always said to be a man’s man. He would say be like Uncle Paul or one of our family friends, never defining what a man’s man meant. He was so much fun, and humbly talking about others- but he was the man’s man I wanted to be like. I am so proud of you, and see the man you’ll be- I have never met anyone, anywhere as loyal as you are. I hope you bust out laughing someday- realizing you just acted dorky like me and bow up and do it again. Have fun and look around if you hear someone yell “ Go Irish”.
There is much more I’d love to say, just know I might like to fix some past mistakes, but I wouldn’t change who I am, what I’ve done, who we are and the joy I’ve known through each of you.”
Obviously, this letter was never shared. Life and family dynamics changed each of us, but I like knowing that we truly got to enjoy more stupid and awesome adventures. I did get to be even more dorky and see some reflections of that in my now adult kids and catch them grin as they realize they just did that stupid thing they made fun of about me. One of the best is when I hear a grandchild told they are just like Pops; and then I secretly encourage them to do it again. I’ve re-ordered my life a few too many times but thank God for the detours.
Daily Battle Order:
Spend a couple minutes and listen to this song by Mercy Me titled “dear younger me” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l70C3ePyIQ
The song is great at thinking about what you wish you would have known earlier. This week we will be reflecting on the fact that each of us have made it through a battle. Your battle might have been depression, addiction, a serious disease, or accident where you weren’t sure you were going to see another day. But you did, and are you now or get to be, the man, husband, father, son, friend you hoped you’d get the chance to be.. We all have screwed up things we hoped for, but press on and keep striving as God’s detours and His resets are amazing. Stay dorky – that is truly one area I can say “follow me, I know the way”.
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