I just hung up from talking to our Tyler. He called just to talk and we talked for almost an hour. We talked serious and we laughed some also. It is so wonderful to have him back on American soil. Because of what he does in the Special Forces he is never allowed to talk about where he has been or what he has done.
Last Sunday he had phoned me last Sunday morning in the wee hours to tell me that he was back at his base.
Later in the morning, during church, he texted me. We texted back and forth a few times ((Yes, there are occasional times that this pastor’s wife can be found on the front row texting!!! For the record, no one can tell I am texting – I have learned to be very slick!! )) Actually, truth be known, there are several young college age kids who call me mom. Sometimes when Dw says something random and crazy funny one of these young kids will text me and say something. Pretty sweet to me! I love that they call me “mom” and I also love that they enjoy texting me randomly, even during services.
So anyway, last Sunday when Tyler was texting me it dawned on me that he had said he was driving to church. So I texted him and asked if he was texting while driving? He said he was. I texted him back and told him to stop it and just drive! He texted me back and said, “You are so funny mom. I get back from who knows where and doing who knows what with my life in great danger, and you are worried about me texting and driving!” I guess that does put it in a bit more perspective, although I still don’t like him driving and texting.
Anyway, just before hanging up tonight he said that tomorrow he would be attending the memorial service for his three battalion members who lost their lives during this deployment. I got to thinking…we take so much for granted. Tomorrow though, there will be three families and plenty of friends and co-soilders laying to rest three young men who gave their lives for our freedom, while we go about our normal activities.
I know my Tyler was even more convinced he needed to join after 9-11. He hated the fact that we were attacked on our precious American soil. He said that many of his fellow soilders also directly joined because of the impact of 9-11 on their lives. 
Of these three young men who will be honored tomorrow at Tyler’s base, they were all special forces, just like him. One died on Memorial day. One has gotten married just before he deployed, they were going to honeymoon when he returned. One was married. One was single. One was someone Tyler knew. One was a close friend of Tyler’s close friend. All were once little boys. All had special talents. All believed that they were willing to pay the price for continued freedom in America.
In the news today 9 young soilders were also killed. That means 9 families will have military personnel and a chaplain coming to their door in the next day.
Would you join me in praying for the military deployed around the world? Would you join me in praying for the families who will be hearing the knock on their front door? Will you join me in praying for families and friends of the three young men who will be honored tomorrow at Tyler’s base? Would you join me in honoring these men and women who died today in Afghanistan? Would you join me in praying, even for just a moment for all of these? We must not take our freedom for granted, these precious young men and women and their families have paid the ultimate price, and they cannot and should not be forgotten.
God bless the families of our military, God bless our military and God bless America!!