Giving
Thanks for Those Who Answer the Call
By Caroline Peabody
President- The Military Family Network
Hampton, Virginia
Thanksgiving is a special
time for our nation. We remember our first journey
to a foreign land - seeking freedom from persecution
- finding a country that presented the opportunity
for peace and a fruitful future. It was a scary
time - banding together, facing hostility, needing
the help of all to survive and nurture hope. That
seed of hope, sown by generations of Americans
yielded the prosperity for which we give thanks
this time of year.
We also celebrate our military families this time
of year during National Military Family Week.
For many - over a quarter of a million - face
this holiday without their loved ones. Their loved
ones have traveled to a strange land. They battle
loneliness and have answered our country’s
call to serve and bring that seed of hope to another
nation. They are alone, working to band with their
brothers, to survive - to bring hope - to one
day come home.
It is difficult to remain aware of the sacrifice
of military families. It is difficult to remain
aware and connected to the loss of life, limb
and - in cases of PTSD - the emotional peace we
each take for granted everyday. But, it is our
duty as citizens, as faithful children of God,
as caring humans, to carry the lamp and recognize
the meaning of duty and celebrate, embrace and
support all those who answer the call.
So many families in our nation will sit across
from an empty chair, while we enjoy our feasts.
Their table will be quieter than ours. Their hearts
heavier. They will carry worries that we do not
share- but can remember. For we can give thanks
for their service and pray for the safety of their
loved ones until they return.
There will be some who will not return. The chair
will remain empty. Their loved one will have sacrificed
all in service to their country. This is the price
paid by these families to each one of us - as
we all make up our nation - and one that should
never be forgotten. For these families, and the
sacrifice of all those who gave their lives before
them, we have a duty to give thanks and remember.
There will be some who return - forever changed
by their service. Although war changes all, some
of our country’s loved ones will return
without their arms, their legs or perhaps a piece
of their spirit - a body or mind broken by war.
They will return to their families needing love
and care greater than before. For these brothers
and sisters, returning home after sacrificing
not just their time - but pieces of themselves
- we give thanks.
We give thanks and remember that each day we waken
rested - we remember those who pray for a one
night’s without nightmares. We give thanks
that for each step we take with our legs - there
are those who have sacrificed their mobility.
We give thanks that for each vision we see - every
time we are able to look at our loved ones - have
the ability to revel in their joy - there are
those returning without sight and will never see
their loved ones smile.
Most of all, we give thanks that we are blessed.
Blessed to be a part of a nation that is so prosperous.
Blessed that we have our families and shelter
and food. We are also blessed to have the ability
to pray for ourselves that we have the strength
and courage to maintain our awareness of our brother’s
sacrifice - to give to our community in any way
we can - as they are giving in service to their
call. This is our duty - to give thanks - to pray
- to remember.
(Caroline Peabody has a master’s degree
in Communications and has worked for over 15 years
in military marketing and community outreach.
She is the President of The Military Family Network,
www.emilitary.org, a community network helping
military families get connected with each other
and organizations in their communities. She may
be reached at cpeabody@emilitary.org)
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