True Love and Patriotism

I was an unusual kid.  At 14 or 15 years old my biggest worry in life was that I would not be able to support my future family when the time came.  Of course at 14 years old I wasn’t going to admit that to anyone, because that was a nerdy thing to worry about.  Now fast forward 16 years and you are reading this blog.  Up until this point I have looked my childhood fear in the face and supported a family for over 7 years.  I always tried to make sure my family was taken care of so we were available to help others when called upon.  The other side of that coin, receiving help, has always made me incredibly uncomfortable.  I always feel there are other people worse off that need help far more than me or my family.  God turned the table on me.  Suddenly my family is in a situation that if others were not helping extensively, we would drown in fear, frustration, and loneliness.

I feel a like I’m in a story that you would read about someone else in the news.  I can imagine the headlines… “Military Wife is overcoming insurmountable odds”, “Military wife balances kids and complicated pregnancy alone”, or “Military Wife fights war overseas by fighting a war for life at home”.  It’s an article I would read.  I would share it with Elyse.  We would talk about how lucky we are.  How glad we were we didn’t have that trial in our lives.  We would talk about how these people are a true example of Love and Patriotism and how glad we are people like those, in the article, exist.

Now we have this trial in our lives.  As we’ve received comments from people reflecting those same things I would have said about someone else in this situation, I am humbled and grateful.  However, I don’t feel we deserve those comments as much as others do.  Our ability to handle this situation is wholly dependent upon the people God sent to help us.  We didn’t choose this trial.  Everyone that is helping us is conscientiously choosing to make this trial a part of their life.  Wouldn’t that make all those helping us the ultimate example of Love and Patriotism?  That would make them deserving of those comments far more than us.  Elyse and I have discussed ad nauseum that we can never repay all the time and help people have provided.  The last thing we want is to be ungrateful recipients of such unconditional love from so many.  I don’t know what to do except say thank you to those picking up my slack, and far more, while I’m gone.  Thank you for not allowing me to fall to my childhood fears.  Thank you for allowing me to grow emotionally, spiritually, and as a person.  Thank you for taking care of my wife, allowing her to grow emotionally, spiritually, and physically… love you Elyse ;)  Thank you for not only caring for our kids but helping them maintain as normal of a life as possible.  Thank you for giving our twin boys a fighting chance!

THANK YOU!

PS : We’re naming one of the babies Elwood, just ask Mr. J  :)