As your mom, I want you to be safe and healthy above all else. I want you to outlive me and your dad by many, many years. No parent should ever lose a child, although sadly ... sometimes it does happen.
Today, I heard some news that left me heart broken. A young soldier (the same age as me, 29) died in Afghanistan serving our country in the United States Army - http://wreg.com/2013/07/30/local-soldier-killed-in-afghanistan/. His name was Stephen New and he was from Memphis, TN and close friends with one of my own childhood friends. As I view photos and read about how they celebrated his life and the memories they shared with him, I am once again reminded at how precious and beautiful life is.
As stated in John 15:13 - "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".
I have mixed feelings about the possibility of you one day serving our country. On one hand, I don't want you to be in any danger ... ever. On the other hand, I look at men like your Daddy (who served in the United States Coast Guard), your PawPaw (who served in the United States Navy) and young soldiers like Stephen New who selflessly serve in the Army, Marines, Airforce, etc. and honor their county by risking their lives so that we remain "free" and I am completely humbled, proud and grateful.
Be appreciative of your life. Live your life in a way that brings honor to yourself, to your family, to your friends and to God. Whatever you choose, I support you and your decision. But no matter what you choose, always keep soldiers like Stephen in your heart and prayers. Support our military and soldiers who choose to be in it. Be kind to families that have lost a solider or are dealing with an injured or PTS solider. And most of all, be patriotic and grateful that so many lives have been lost so that we as U.S. citizens may live freely. Freedom, my dear Mason, is a gift that not everyone gets to have.
RIP Stephen New and all of our brave, honorable, fallen U.S. soldiers.
I love you baby boy.
Love,
Momma
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