Tuesday, April 23, 2013

With it or on it.

Okay, so here I am two days from my blog post and for once in my life I don’t know what to say, so I’m just going to speak from the heart and see where it takes me. (By the way, after I wrote this, I had to amend, because of a big surprise I received.)

I’ve just spent the last two weeks seeing my boys off to deployment. My youngest is a combat medic in the Army. He flew out to South Korea two weeks ago. The other is a Marine, who has returned to Afghanistan for his second deployment. Both of their wives are pregnant. My youngest son’s wife is due any day with his first child.
There are few times in my life I have seen my son tear up. This is one of them. His duty assignment to Korea has become a “deployment”, which means it's unlikely he will be home for his daughter’s birth. In fact, they told him he may not see her for her first year, maybe even longer. This is one of the challenges our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen face daily, the separation from those they love.

Please let me share this picture of my daughter-in-law when the bus carrying my son pulled up in front of us after months of deployment in Afghanistan. She hates it. I love it. It tells a story of love. It says more than I ever could about how you feel when your hero returns. Sometimes the picture speaks for you, and I think I will let it.
 
When our young men and women serve in the military, they don’t just risk life and limb, they give up precious time that they can’t get back. My oldest son was here for his first daughter’s birth, but he missed the first time she rolled over, her first steps and first words. Now, he faces the same situation as my youngest. His wife is also pregnant, with her second child. He too will miss the birth of this child.

I understand what they are going through  all too well, know what it is to be that soldier and know what it is to be the family member left behind while their warrior goes off to war. Yes, I was once that soldier, and I was also the pregnant wife, waiting for my hero to set foot on US soil again.

For those that have been there, you will understand when I say this. While your loved one is deployed, especially if it is into a hot situation, where there is combat daily, it’s almost as though you forget how to breathe. You hold your breath. When you receive word their plane has touched down in the United States, for the first time since they left—you exhale.

So, last night I went out to dinner with my husband and daughter-in-law. I'm sitting there, looking over the menu when someone comes up behind me in my seat and hugs me. I turn to look, and my youngest son is standing there in an Army tee-shirt and his shorts. I was speechless. My husband was talking with my daughter-in-law's father and wasn't aware he was standing there, until I elbowed him. This was an amazing moment, and I can't say how happy I am that he can be home for her birth. I imagine my face looked very much like Cate's does above. There are tears in my eyes as I write this. Yes, his duty will eventually call him back to Korea, but for now, he is here and I can not thank those who made it possible, enough. They are heroes too, and perhaps it's because they've been there too.
“With it or on it.” This phrase is attributed to Spartan mothers when they presented their sons a shield the first time they went off to battle. It is a phrase of great courage, not only for the one receiving the shield, but the one who presents it. It says we know this fight is worth the sacrifice. It says come home, but not as a coward, serve honorably. Come home the sons we raised you to be. Men of honor. Men with a deep sense of sacrifice. Men who are willing will give all to make this country safe for their families, friends and posterity. Come home heroes—on your shield or with it.
And so to my sons I say.

“With it or on it.”
God bless. We’ll be right here when you get back, but while you're here, we'll embrace you with all we have.

Mom, and US Army Veteran.
www.authordljackson.com

17 comments:

  1. Reading this felt like coming home. Thank you for sharing. My husband's been home for over a year now, and it's easy to forget or put aside those other feelings that made his homecoming so special.

    Thank you for your service. And for your sons... and for your books [which I haven't read, but will have to pick up soon]! :D

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    1. Thanks, Bethanne.
      Homecoming is a time when we can exhale and celebrate the return of those we love. It's a great feeling to have them back, and a great honor to be their family, keeping the home fire burning.

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  2. that's beautiful! congratulations on the new grandbabies. you're a strong lady for supporting your sons on their journey. i'm sure their wives look to you for guidance and reassurance as well.

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by, and thank you for your congratulations.

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  3. We have a beautiful baby girl as of five minutes ago.

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    1. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! This post was amazing and I thought the picture was BEAUTIFUL! Heartfelt thoughts to you and your whole family!

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    2. Thanks, Laura. Today has been a great day.

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    3. Congratulations on your granddaughter! I'm glad Daddy was able to be there How wonderful!

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  4. Congratulations Grandma and to the new Mom and Dad and the entire family! God Bess!

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    1. Thanks, Margie. All are doing great and little Sophia is beautiful. To see my son smile at his new daughter....
      He is so in love with her. That little girl has daddy already wrapped around her finger.

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  5. ...and now I'm crying. LOL
    Great post.
    Cat

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    1. Thanks. You too? You should have seen me sobbing the moment I heard the baby. Priceless.

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  6. Well, you had tears in your eyes while writing it, and I have tears in my eyes after reading this post. So happy your son was able to make it home for the birth of his first child. Congratulations to your family! And thank you to them as well, for dedicating their lives to serving. I wish you all the best!

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  7. Wow....for someone who didn't know what they were going to say, you sure did find something. There were tears in my eyes reading this post. I can say that I can only imagine what these times feel like for families, loved ones that are deployed and the ones left behind. But you know what, I don't know what that feels like. Reading your post & your experiences just plain ripped my heart out. Thank you!

    Congratulations on the arrival of your precious granddaughter! My best to Mom & Dad, too.

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  8. Thanks for stopping by. I'll post a funny military story next month. Because serving can also be fun.

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  9. CONGRATULATIONS to you and your family!!! I am so happy that your son was able be home for the birth of his daughter (as I'm sure he, his wife, and you were as well). I tried to read some of this to my husband, but had trouble seeing through the tears. Thank you to you and your family for your service. As an Army brat, former Army nurse, and former Army wife the sacrifices that you and your family have made have not gone without notice.

    Thank you and congratulations again.

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  10. Well now I'm all teary! What a strong lady you are, and thank you for supporting and loving your sons, along with your service and sacrifice.

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