I was privileged she said she would sit down with me. I hoped she would, as I wanted to tell her story. A mother and her son. That special bond, and the ultimate price her son paid for our freedom. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The questions I had for her, how did she do it? She had always amazed me, but I admire her even more now as I hear her tell their story. With a Kleenex grasped tightly in her hand, a stoic women who rides beside her husband, one of the family owners, of the 06 Ranch. Her strength, humility, and witty personality makes me want to emulate her.
I’ve tried three times to write out a story that would bring her son honor. I admit I fall short on adequate words to describe such sacrifice. I want to tell you what I learned from a Hero’s Mom. I bet you will find yourself like I did, wondering some of the same questions about how she made it though the tragedy of losing her son and the days that followed. I hope you find yourself, like I feel today, humbled, more appreciative, reminded of those who matter most to us, the high cost of freedom, and to love our service men and women who fought for us. To love our U.S. A.. I will always value this Hero’s mom for what she has to teach us.
- Enjoy Your Kids. She reminded me that raising a son with ADD was difficult. Her eyes danced as she recalls his witty personality, his intelligence, the combination of it all. The trips to the hospital when he suffered with asthma. That same strong willed child, when focused accomplished a high calling as he made Army Forces. Even, putting Forces on hold while he gained infantry training to earn the respect of his comrades.
- Honor Service Men and Women. We live among, “unsung heroes”, the teacher, the banker, the guy at the feed store, the cowboy, or grocery store cashier. “ Recognition is important. Even today, I was reminded when veterans were asked to stand and be honored at church.” Mrs. Dawn, recalls the route of Jakob’s procession through two small towns. “I saw the good in people as they stopped at the intersections, men and women stepped out of their cars, saluting. Even upon passing the school, children lined up in front and honored her son’s passage. A tradition that had not been recognized since the small town lost their last soldier, during Vietnam.” Mrs. Dawn said,”It means so much that the next generation understand the cost of freedom.”
- Firm Foundation. For generations we have believed in Christ and so did Jakob. I remember when that phone call came. “I dropped to my knees and prayed for strength”, recalling that she also asked God to allow her to see good from this or she couldn’t make it. The words of her mother immediately came to mind, “Turn it over to the Lord”.
- The Words That Meant the Most. After receiving pamphlets, books, recommendations for grief counseling the words I clung to the most, a letter from a cowboy, Dow Jones, who had lost a son in a motorcycle accident. His words were, “Keep putting one foot in front of the other, and praise God for the breath He gives you.”
- What Matters Most. She admits that the trials before this were hard but nothing like this one. “I remember when I battled Lymes Disease and was bound to a wheelchair for a short time”, she said. “You only have so much energy and you can’t waste it on things you can’t control.”
- Honor Their Calling. Her son was never more focused than when he made a decision to join the military. It was a passion that began in high school. A passion that caused him to quit the football team his senior year to train. His calling kept him focus through his summer lifeguarding job, even using his breaks to train. And finally through the first semester of college until he jogged right into that recruiting office. “His calling is just like that of a minister or a teacher”, Those men have a calling and we have to respect that.
“I am honored God chose my son, he’s done a lot of good for people.”
Final Thoughts: Pray for our soldiers, both those currently deployed and those here at home. You never know what they are going through. Would you take the time today to thank God for our veterans. And if along the way, you meet some Hero’s mom, or dad, brothers, sisters, children, aunts, uncles, wife, fiancé, or friends. Tell them thank you as well.
Thank you to all our veterans and their families, may God bless you for your sacrifice.
Please join me and thank a veteran in your comments below. If you currently have a family member or friend serving please let us know so we can lift them up in prayer.
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