If Only There Were More Men Like Him

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.

He stays up for days on end.

__________________________

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

He goes days or weeks without running water.

__________________________

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.

He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

__________________________

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.

He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

__________________________

You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

__________________________

You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you.

He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

__________________________

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

__________________________

You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

__________________________

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

He does not get to eat today.

__________________________

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.

He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

__________________________

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

__________________________

You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

He is told he will be held an extra 2 months.

__________________________

You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

__________________________

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.

He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

__________________________

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

__________________________

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he is fighting.

__________________________

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.

He hears the gun fire and bombs.

_________________________

You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the bodies lying around him.

__________________________

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He does what he is told.

__________________________

You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat.

__________________________

You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.

He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gun fire.

__________________________

You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of men like him.

If only there were more men like him.

Take my hand, America... They need each and every one of us to talk to our awesome God about His promises to us.

While my imagination holds their faces I picture them awake in the night ... scared ... tired and talking to God. I pray there is an angel who will carry my thoughts to them and wrap their heartbeats in a piece of my own soul. I sigh in silenceand realize that sigh is tiny but when God hears it it becomes a prayer.

Lord, You hear all that can be heard even when unspoken. You suffered at the hands of Your murderers and healed them with Your own blood because You loved them. I know You can see Your sons and daughters, while You watch the wars in Your land unfold. The land where You made Your promises to us. You are the keeper of all promises and thats what I want to talk to you about. Specifically, Your promises of rest, safety and peace, for our troops.

They are tired - hold them in Your precious scarred hands and give them rest. They are surrounded by danger - place Your hedge of love around them and keep them safe. They are troubled - wrap them in Your halo of comfort and give them peace. Embrace them with Your love. Allow them to remember their beautiful country while standing in death and destruction. When they see bandages soaked with escaping youth let their tears cleanse their eyes and their memory. And when they look up at the stars... the very stars that David walked under... allow them to remember how to feel their own heart and know that the darkness they are in will soon be daylight. Place Your sword in their hand to defend their strength. Let their spirit absorb You and not their surroundings. Only You can help them as they sleep in this country that kills its own people. Close their ears to the sounds of war around them... letting them hear only Your sweet voice in their heart. When they cant remember who they are anymore be generous with them as they stand in this land of evil. Place Your mighty hand on their weary heads.

Let the distinction between their lives here and there be the same as to happiness and sadness. Let their tears of sadness empty them and fill them with happiness. When they sleep with loneliness and long for homelet them see the face of their loved one lying next to them...feel the arms of their parents. Calm their fears and give them strength and fortitude. And when they leave their tears at Your feet grace them with comfort and rest. When they feel empty and ruined remind them that You are their treasure keeper.

When its time for them to come home... Place your hands deep inside them and draw their shattered hearts out into Your light. Help them gather the glittering pieces to light the shadows that will surely follow the home. Remind them that they were are never alone over there because You walked that very ground before them...and they stood on the very earth that You breathed life into. Remind them that they are home. Remind them that we love them. Reassure them that they are heroes.

Thank you, Awesome Father, for being the keeper of all promises. Amen

(Written by me)

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"

"I believe, that when a child like Shay comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child."

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield.

Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher took the ball and turned and threw the ball on a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman.

Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"

Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"

By the time Shay rounded first base, the right fielder had the ball.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases toward home.

Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!"

As Shay rounded third, the boys from BOTH TEAMS were screaming, "Shay, run home!"

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."

(Author Unknown)

THEY ARE HEROES
Current mood: contemplative

THEY ARE HEROES

They sleep under the most beautiful sky on Earth. The stars they wish upon are the same stars that lit David's path. They stand where their friends have fallen... where the earth is soaked red with escaping youth. The very earth that God breathed life into. They include Democrats, Republicans, all races, social status and cultures. They are Americans. The fighting men and women of the greatest country on Earth. They belong to all of us. They are paying the ultimate price to protect us. Be proud of them. Very, very proud. They are heroes...each and every one of them.

When you go to sleep tonight... safe in your bed... give this some thought

All the way on the other side of the world... in a different world...there are some brave young people with sweaty dirty little faces; a loved one's picture in their helmet, a well worn letter from home in their pocket; homesick and very tired. Yet, they stand strong...wide awake...weapon in hand. Standing guard over our home... making our night peaceful. They are watching over us.