Most people that I know are in the throws of raising small children. We hug and kiss, nurture and foster, all the things that good parents do. While in the midst of this it is easy to loose sight of the future. The truth. Our children are going to grow up and leave us someday.
We made it to church on time, for once, today. We sat in our usual pew towards the back, you know the one were we can make quick break for cover if our child is the one disrupting the service. In front of us sat a boy and his mother. Not just any boy and mother though. This was the grown son of mother, dressed in his Marine best, and his father is our pastor.
This boy, once their small child is now a man leaving for a war this week. He was blessed at the end of the service as was his armor. His father took off his robes at the end of the service to prepare to take his son to war. A powerful picture for a quaint Sunday morning in small town America.
I do not know Tristan Pursley, or his mother. We are acquainted with his father as our minister for nearly sixth months. What I do know is that these parents raised their son to be a good Christian, a kind person, and a brave man. All things as parents we can hope to do.
I cried silently through church this morning for the loss of these parents. All parents who raise good and just sons and daughters to serve our republic for what strong men see as the means to solve the worlds crisis. We do not question, but have faith. We believe and have faith. As parents this is all we can do.
Hold your children close. Raise them to see all the good things God has provided for us.
Pray for our minister, his wife, and their son as he leaves for Afghanistan.
Our babies will grow up. They do a little each day.
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