Because of You

Because of you, I go to sleep at night wondering if kids need another blanket.

Because of you, my kids cry when we don't have time to go to the park.

Because of you, I worry that the guest bathroom toilet is still leaking.

Because of you, I work hard for a paycheck.

Because of you, I worry that I need to get the kids to the dentist.

Because of you, my kids eat too much junk food.

Who are you? The veteran. The soldier. The warrior.

Your sacrifice makes all of this happen.

Because I have a home with walls and a roof where my family is safe. I don't worry about bombs blasting holes in our sanctuary.

Because my kids are able to play outside under the open skies and I don't have to wonder if they will be ripped from my arms and taken off to be soldiers carrying automatic weapons and committing atrocities of their own.

Because you support a way of life where electricity, running water, and even internet are readily available.

Because our society and way of life allows me to work outside the home as a woman, and earn a pay check and support my family.

Because we have ample medical care to keep my children healthy and thriving.

Because I can go to the store and buy good food to feed my family without having to worry about food shortages, lines for rations, or fire fights in our streets.

These simple things that we take for granted every single day. Not a single one would be possible without men and women like you fighting for our way of life and to keep enemies at bay.

I don't say it enough, but you should know I do think about how blessed I am. I think about it all the time. I think about your families who have to send you into harms way to protect me and mine. I appreciate it more than you can ever know.

I know it's not enough, but it's all I have...thank you.