Erin It is not easy giving up your spouse everyday. It is not easy going through life knowing that you are not the top priority, and neither are your children. I do not think people gives spouses the appropriate credit. Whether your spouse is a police officer, a firefighter, a soldier, or any profession that everyday is a risk, it is difficult to understand not just the physical strain, but the mental hurdles.
Everyday these careers require sacrifice to their country and others. They leave home and go out in the world, whether foreign or domestic, and put their lives on the line. When duty calls, it is goodbye spouse and goodbye kids. It is goodbye with hope that they return. We, as families, let go. We watch our loved one walk out the door, and mentally prepare ourselves that they may not return. We pray everyday that God will watch over them, and put faith in his ability to do so.
This was my thought for today. My car is unfortunately in the shop. Because of my predicament, I had to drive my husband to work this morning. At 0430, I woke up. I made his hot breakfast. I packed what seemed like a 3000 calorie lunch (that’s light for him). I then made his coffee. At 0530 ish we headed out to his work battling traffic of another hundred soldiers all leaving in what seemed like a movie shot of the suburbs. As we parked, and I moved to the driver seat, it was the same scene as dropping him off for deployment.
I know that in about twelve hours, I will be picking him up. Logically, it should not be as emotional as I made it out to be. However, it felt as though I would not see him for months again. I thought about all the wives (and husbands) who send their husband’s (and wives ) off every morning in uniform. I thought about how their entire day is filled with worry, but they manage to live their daily life. I thought about five years ago. My husband was a civilian. My husband worked in a transmission plant. My husband was home every night. My husband wore a different uniform.
I remembered kissing him goodbye every morning. Now it feels so different. Whether it is for a day, or for nine months, it is hard. My prayers go out for the soldiers, police, fire, EMT, and all others who put stranger’s lives before their own. My prayers go out even more for the spouses and children. Always trying to be prepared for the worst, but moving forward.
