Do yourself a favor - THANK THEM!

Hi! I’m back. I’m so sorry it’s been a while since my last post. Since we last spoke, I’ve been on a mission’s trip to Guatemala and have started a new venture into physical health, became part of a personal coaching group and started a 7 week intense therapy program for my 10 year old son Ben who is fighting Autism -more on all that later.

I wanted for us to reconnect again and get back into the game on “Independence Day” weekend.
Freedom. What does that word mean to you? How do you define it? How does it play into your life?

I don’t know about you (feel free to tell me) but freedom I think has to be my strongest value. Everything we ever desire to do hinges on freedom – doesn’t it? Think about it. What are you without free expression? The way you worship the job you have or the work you chose to do, the people you surround yourself with, the way you present yourself to the world – it all requires freedom. Even the way you eat, dress and express yourself through music choices, art and literature! You can’t have any of it if you’re not free to obtain it and use it! Isn’t that amazing?
Poverty is nothing more than a lie that binds – a lack of freedom. For those that suffer through illness and disease, these states often render them unable to do the things they want to do – a confinement (lack of freedom). A poor education or the lack of an education is a lack of knowledge. Knowledge is power. Why? Because when you have knowledge you have the ability to make informed (and hopefully) wise choices about yourself and your life!

I’m going to argue that freedom is everything.

So, who’s responsible for all of our freedom? How is it that we find ourselves so blessed to have the freedom to work a job, go to church, listen to the music we want, eat what we want and say whatever we want about the offices of government that make it all possible? Of course, it’s the visionaries and unconventional thinkers that wrote up their visions for our freedoms – but more importantly it’s the incredible men and women who go out there in the dark, unpredictable and lonely world of military service.

It matters not one single bit how you feel about the war right now. Put that aside. I want to know – honestly how grateful are you? Have you ever seen a man or woman in fatigues at an airport or even a grocery store and stopped to shake their hand to thank them? If not, why not?!
Imagine if everyone felt like everyone else about military conflict, or war in general? Do you think this country would exist? Never. It’s easy to talk a big game but can you imagine the kind of person that it takes to literally lay down their life for you – A PERFECT STRAGER because they feel a call to do it? It simply amazes me. They are literally walking into the unknown.
Here’s what enrages me – THE LACK OF GRATITUDE that these extraordinary individuals receive. I traveled in and out of Colorado Springs last week (home to the Air force Academy) and I saw dozens of military personnel coming and going.

I was particularly mortified not only by the fact that no one smiled at them, or stopped to shake their hand and thank them – but at the hassle they got in the security line! Are you kidding me? One gentleman was bringing his fiancé through the line with him and they barely made it through. They got drilled, hassled and she barely made it to see him off at his gate. That was rough, but only second to the run around a young man got trying to get to his gate. This guy was everything but strip searched!! The young man was new. I could tell. He was not used to traveling and was a bit nervous to begin with. He gets pulled over, everything pulled out of his bag, his cigarettes taken away, his other bag confiscated AND patted down. Hello! It’s called profiling people! Did the security staff honestly think he was a threat? A young American man in his early twenties, with a buzz cut in US issued fatigues and US issued duffle bag with matching US government ID badge which happened to look JUST LIKE HIM -and he’s a security risk?? As you can probably tell I think “random” searches are bogus. I was “randomly” searched when I was seven months pregnant and was going to be late getting onto that plane – when I finally just lifted up my shirt, exposed by huge shiny belly and said, “Its real – OK? Can I go?”
I was downright embarrassed for us watching this happen to our few and our proud. I was embarrassed for an American culture that can take the time to call into vote for their favorite “idol” but can’t tip their hat to a man willing to die because his country has asked him to defend your right to criticize the war. People actually look at these guys like they’ve got a communicable disease. What’s the matter with us in this country? How about some gratitude?

I was on a flight about a year ago in which many military personal were being deployed to a short training before going over sees. I got on the plane and began the process of minding my own business and pretending no one else existed (like we all do when we get on a plane and search for our seat and a tiny storage place for our entire life). I finally got myself situated, book and notebook in hand and sat down. As I glanced up to see with which I’d be sharing the flight, I noticed that one by one these incredible men in fatigues began walking down the aisle. No one, not one single person shot them a smile – intentionally made a friendly gesture or even said “hello.” Certainly no one paid one ounce of respect. We’re all too sophisticated and politically correct for that. Right? Shameful.

I stood up in my seat, but my junk in the seat next to me (no, no one was seated there yet) and one by one extended my hand to shake theirs, looked them square in the eyes, smiled and said loudly and proudly, “Thank you for your Service!” They were shocked. Each one of them looked stunned as they extended their hand, respectfully, nodded and said, “thank you ma’am.”
Wow. I was proud. I was proud of them, proud to be an American, and proud of myself for doing what I knew to be right despite what any other windbag on that plane thought of it.
That act had benefits all the way around. I got a chance to express my gratitude, and they got a minuscule amount – just one gesture of thanks – but here’s something else…that small, simple gesture must of meant something to a few of them.

I got up mid flight to go to the bathroom after having held it WAY to long (I do that, because otherwise I end up hopping up at least 2, often 3 times a flight to run to the powder – uh - coffin) and who did I end up standing right behind in line? Three of the gentlemen that I had earlier greeted. The line was about 7 people long so the first guy had at least 4 people to wait for. I settled into my crossed legged stance, took a deep breath and started to people watch, when suddenly the gentleman in front of me turned to glance and noticed me. He took a double take and smiled (remembering me from our earlier encounter). This young soldier tilted his hat and said, “please ma’am” and gestured for me to move in front of him in line. That wasn’t all. The two gentlemen in fatigues in front of him heard him, turned to see what was going on and again nodded with that soldier-like military nod and a smile and waved me in front of them! “Please ma’am, go ahead.” “Oh, thank you so much! No, I couldn’t I really appreciate it, but it’s a long flight for all of us.”

“Please, I insist ma’am go ahead” was the response with a big smile from the gentlemen closest to the front of the line! I said, “thank you! Thanks guys!” and proudly took my new place in the front of that little potty line.

I felt great. This wasn’t the biggest deal in the world. It was being led closer to the front of the line for the bathroom. I get it. But, clearly these young men were not used to being treated with respect and they were obliged to return the favor. Isn’t this how it’s supposed to be?

May I issue a personal challenge? I’ve taught my kids to do this – and yes I do this myself…when you see a man or woman in military fatigues please go up to them and simply say, “thank you for your service.”

You ARE grateful – aren’t you? So why not show it? Our military does not feel supported by the vast population in this country and they’re down right hated in many other countries (not that we should care, after all we’ll be the FIRST ones they cry out to when they need help of any kind – and we’ll be the first and most generous to respond).

How do I know? I have 3 extremely brave cousins that are Marines. One of them is sitting in Iraq right now willing to give his life for you – because his country asked him to. Again, this has nothing to do with how you feel about the war – or even how he feels about it. I’m just saying these young men and women in uniform…and Jesus are the only people I know brave enough to die for someone who doesn’t believe in them. How will you honor them?