Repost from Selah Day 96 “Honor is Heavy”

Did you know that the soldiers who have the honorable duty of marching in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier spend 40-50 hours preparring their shoes for the task? Then, they spend 4-6 hours each day just shinning their shoes in between guard walks.

I am currently reading a book about Honor. In the book, the author, Robert Barriger, talks some about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as the soldiers who guard the tomb everyday. Stories about our military always inspire me, convict me, and challenge me.

For 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year since 1937, soldiers have kept watch. Or, it equals 76 years, 27,740 days, 665,760 hours, that soldiers have kept watch! And, they are doing it right now even as I type this blog. Soldiers who are assigned to this regimen consider it the highest honor that can be afforded to a service person.

The three soldiers who lay in this tomb are known only to God. Nevertheless, the soldiers who keep guard do so with the utmost honor and respect. They show honor and respect for the three soldiers who sacrificed their future so that they might have one. So, we might have one.

The protocol established and the act of honor for these unknown soldiers is deeply humbling.

Even in the midst of storms, soldiers keep watch. When Hurricane Isabel and Sandy threatened the East coast, including Washington, D.C., the soldiers where given an option to stand down if conditions got too dangerous. I am sure you can all guess what their response was to the “Stand Down” option. Yes, you are right. They responded by saying, “No way, Sir!”

In spite of hours of marching in soaking rain and high powered winds of a tropical storm, the Soldiers assigned to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier saw it as more than a job assignment, but rather the highest honor of their life.

As I think about the respect and honor our soldiers pay towards one another, I also think about the level of honor and respect I pay towards others, including the one who died for me and my everlasting future.

Over the last year, my faith has been challenged. But, there is a reason why Paul said to “fight the good fight of Faith.” I have experienced challenges, trials, tests, and heartache that have been so difficuIt. But, we were never promised that this so-called life would be easy. I have learned that having FAITH means that I will also have questions that may never be answered.

In the wee hours of the morning that dreadful day in February as I drove home from the hospital, I kept saying over and over and over again, “I don’t understand, Lord, but I trust you.” Daily I have been on a mission to figure out exactly what that phrase looks like in my life. It is one thing to make a profound statement, but it is a totally different thing to walk it out.

Bottom line…it simply means that it doesn’t matter what we go through or what happens…God is still God. And, I have decided that I trust Him. I want to honor my Lord like the soldiers honor the tomb. High winds, rain, hurricane conditions, strict shoe shinning regimen, and more, they consider their assignment as the greatest of honors. Like them, regardless of the “storms or regimens” that life throws at me, I want to stand guard and keep watch over the Faith I have in the One who gave it all for me.

Monday, November 11

My 27 Thanks:

1. Today is the day we set aside to Honor and Celebrate our Veterans. I am so thankful for the countless men and women who have given their lives to a cause that is greater than themselves.

2. I am so thankful for Freedom.

3. I am so thankful to be an American. Even though some of our systmes are flawed, broken, or down-right corrupt, it is still the BEST land to live and thrive and raise a family.

4. I am thankful for the willingness of others to make a sacrifice for me and my family.

5. I am thankful for the spirit of selflessness. Wow! Our military lives a life of selflessness.

6. My in-laws served faithfully in the Navy and the Army for over 30 years.

7. I love that several different restaurants participate in blessing Veterans and our Military with free meals on Veterans Day.

8. Honor and Respect.

9. I was able to take Judah to school today.

10. I was out of ketchup and forgot to get more. Judah will not eat meat without ketchup. My mother-in-law saved the day and brought some ketchup to his school, so he would eat his chicken nugget lunch.

11. Judah has the sweetest, most caring teachers.

12. I had Qdoba for lunch and it was cheap taco day. I love Qdoba.

13. My ID Badge fell out of the cover and is lost for good. So, Kayla worked extra hard to get me a new ID Badge pronto. I appreciate her stopping everything to help me out.

14. Teri Darrah is a MVP team player. She is so dependable and pays close attention to detail. I love working with her on production material.

15. I got to hear some of Sam’s heart for kids today. Sam and Starla have a beautiful heart for kids. If they could, they would rescue them all.

16. Judah’s Mom Mom picked him up from school today and he got to go and play with his cousins.

17. Judah is super close to his cousins. They are more like siblings.

18. When I drove into my in-laws neighborhood to pick him up, he was playing at the neighborhood park. He had a smile from ear to ear and dirt to match.

19. I left my iphone on the park swing. When I realized it, I went back and it was still there!

20. Judah and I had a great time coloring together on the living room floor.

21. We enjoy each other’s company.

22. Judah made me laugh tonight on multiple occasions. Occassion #1: Judah states, “Mommy, if I tell you it is an accident then I won’t get a spanking. You don’t get spankings for accidents.” Hmmm…do you think he is figuring something out?

23. Funny Comment #2: Judah is standing on a box in the pantry holding a box of Fiber One cereal and states, “Mommy, do you want some cereal that helps you pee and poop?” I am sure his dad taught him that one.

24. Picture texts. It is nice to be able to capture funny moments and share them with my family.

25. Judah loves to learn.

26. We had a peaceful evening.

27. Life is good and Eternal Life is going to be even better.