A Mother's Sacrifice Revealed by a Bowling Ball

A Tribute to Our Military

I try hard NOT to take for granted what our U.S. soldiers do for us, but sometimes the subtleties escape me. I am grateful that I eventually understood the significance of the following little moment that happened just a few years ago.

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On a December 7th, Pearl Harbor day, my family and I had the privilege of eating at an Army banquet with my Son#1 and his military unit. It was a very nice event with lots of food, but that is not what impressed me the most.

Some of the soldiers from the unit were just getting back from Afghanistan. While we were eating, my son pointed to a female soldier with long straight hair who was seated at another table across the room. He said, "See that woman. She was called up for a year's duty in Afghanistan and just got back."

I said, "Great, but so what?"

My soldier son then explained to me that when she was called up to duty she had to leave behind her six-month old boy.

"What a hardship," I said, "but I suppose that sometimes happens."

He then said that her Sergeant, a man my son referred to as Sergeant "E," had volunteered to take the child during the year into his own family. (The Sergeant was serving in another capacity in the States).

"Great," I said, still not as impressed, as my son wanted me to be.

After the dinner, the soldiers and their families dispersed to various recreational activities. Off to the side was a small four-lane bowling alley. Only one lane was active. It was the woman with the long hair, and she was bending over to assist her now 18-month old son to roll a ball towards the bowling pins. The child was fussing just a little. Standing behind them and watching proudly was Sergeant "E."

Then, an emotional bowling ball hit me. That mother was in the process of getting reacquainted with her baby, now a toddler. It was Sergeant "E's" face that was familiar to the young boy, not the mother's. It was Sergeant "E" who was the reassuring presence to the child. Now he was a catalyst for the mother and child whose bonding had to begin anew.

It was a little moment at an almost ordinary holiday party, but it symbolized for me the tremendous sacrifice women and men of the military make for this country.

At the party I finally "got it." To all U.S. soldiers I wanted to say there is no repayment for what you do for us. I have only one small gift to offer: Thanks!

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Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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