This morning I received an email from my friend V she writes: “Tonight I am in some sadness. A young man who attended high school with my oldest son, same age, and same year of graduation has died. He died in Iraq. They announced it on our local news as the family still lives here and he was out of Ft. Stewart, Georgia.” She continues later, “…he was only 22 years old, a baby still, a whole life ahead of him. He is gone and the family is asking for privacy at this time. My heart goes out to them. I am at a loss for words when now it is close to home that we lost one of our military men. I know my son will be in shock as well as feel the loss of a friend.”
Why is it that we view our Soldiers and Marines as babies at age 22 when at age 29 athletes are washed up? The truth of the matter is, this soldier was not a babe, he was a man and a great man at that, for he saw the greater good of his service and he stepped forward knowing the physical danger, in essence he LIVED HIS LIFE and we are better for having known him.
A phrase from the bible goes something like this; when it is your time to go, make sure that you have lived your life so that your passing is not easy on those left behind. What does this mean? It means simply that we should live our life as God has deemed and have done such great deeds that those we leave behind, for our next life, are saddened at our loss. This great man has done just that and more so for he was an American Soldier, one of the greatest men on this earth and for whom we are indebted for everything.
Grieve for him and his family’s loss, but also celebrate him for his heroism and courage for without men like him there would be an even greater sorrow in this world.
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