The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half
Thank you to The Bradenton Women’s Club for your gift wrapping party for GrowToGive Motivation’s fundraiser, Christmas Groceries n Gifts for Single Moms. We are
The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father’s; but he has never collected unemployment either.
He’s a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howizzitor (sic). He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.
He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you’re thirsty, he’ll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He’ll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life – or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime. He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to ‘square-away’ those around him who haven’t bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.
Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.
By Thomas MacLeod
And now we even have woman over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot.. A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets…….
Lord, provider of breath, I ask you to protect the USA and our Veterans. Without them we would not enjoy your freedoms we often take for granted. Thank you for providing our country with these wonderful men and women. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
Don’t be a Houdini when it comes to dealing with this pandemic and other struggles! Houdini was a great escape artist but not good enough to beat this giant! Find out which giant in the video above! I believe this story will give you great hope during these challenging times.
Thank you for supporting GrowToGive Motivation!
During these emotional times – I hope you are able to relate to being challenged by your beliefs, kind of like the great escape artist himself, Houdini experienced.
Thank you to The Bradenton Women’s Club for your gift wrapping party for GrowToGive Motivation’s fundraiser, Christmas Groceries n Gifts for Single Moms. We are providing each child a wrapped gift.
Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it. – Mark Twain, American Humorist and Writer
Would you forgive him?
Monday, October 2, 2006, was supposed to be another normal day at the Nickel Mines Amish School’s quiet one-room school house in Pennsylvania‟s Dutch country. Charles Carl Roberts IV had different plans as he arrived with guns, plastic ties, and other supplies. On that day, five innocent little girls lost their lives at gunpoint, execution style, before the wicked cowardly killer shot himself.
Roberts wrote a note to his wife and three children, confessing he had molested two young cousins 20 years earlier and had dreams of doing it again. Also, he explained how he was mad at God for the loss of his premature daughter (Elise) in 1997. He said anytime the family would have fun he would think about Elise and what she was missing. Roberts said he would become angry and hate God more each time he thought about it.
It was an unthinkable, undeserving, and unwarranted act that took place that cold Monday morning. Of all places, a peaceful and loving community where caring and giving are so abundant. But even more unexplainable was how the Amish parents of those innocent children responded. The blood from their daughters that lay on the schoolhouse floor was barely dry as they went to the wife of Roberts with love and support.
Their quick act to forgive the killer and also help his wife would bring about questions from even the most liberal of minds. The blank check of forgiveness, written from the hearts of the victims, quickly became the primary focus of the event. It was a rare occasion of love, faith, and courage that dominated the media outlets. How could anyone ever be so willing to forgive such a heinous act? How could they be willing to support and even raise money for the killer‟s family? How could they not become so angry and hateful? Many answers are involved, from their faith to their culture. We can be assured they had plenty of love in their hearts and they knew the value of forgiveness.
The Amish people knew had they not forgiven, they themselves would experience a heart just like the hate-filled killer himself. Bitterness and anger are not discriminatory. Both will quickly fill the space of any unforgiving heart and soul. Had the killer chosen to forgive his past the Amish people could have possibly avoided the need to forgive his present. I will say that in another way. Each time we forgive our past it eliminates anyone having to forgive us in the future. The hate and anger that Roberts possessed came from his unwillingness to forgive.
The Amish people were very hurt, they were extremely saddened and did a lot of grieving. What they were not willing to do was allow the killer an endless path of torture within their souls. They understood the value of forgiveness – love. They may have lost the love from their murdered children that day, but instead of losing even more from bitterness, they chose to take the winning route. Most of us know that bitterness is bad for us, not the offender. Yet we insist on holding grudges against others. What is forgiveness? The word, forgive, in its origin means to totally give. I believe forgiveness is totally giving up our perceived right to hold a grudge against someone else.
The great motivator Zig Ziglar and I sat down to discuss the release of his new book, Embracing The Struggle. Zig traveled over 5 million miles and 40 years sharing a message of hope and encouragement. A best selling Author and loved by millions.
Antwone Fisher is an incredible man. He wan an angry man, a fighting man. But he now helps others with his institution. Have you seen this movie? One of the greatest for helping one come to grips with their past.
In this exclusive, in-depth interview, author and clinical psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson joins Dr. Oz to discuss how we can find meaning in our lives, challenge our thinking, and provide tactical ways we can reach our full potential.
