I've been intending to repost this poem for several days now. I finally got around to searching through the multitude of poetry I've written since this one. But it's not so much the poem itself that I want to share.
The war in Iraq has been going on for so long now and people still die there daily so violently. After so long, I believe that the general population, other than those whose loved ones are directly affected, have become numb in waiting for it to end. Tragedy after tragedy after tragedy simply does that to people. I think that it's built into us as a protective mechanism to keep us from becoming overly sickened by the grief of it all.
But friends, it is so important that we continue faithfully to lift our brothers and sisters up in prayer who are there today, willingly putting their own lives at risk for every one of us. Let us not forget their sacrifices.
If it's been a while since you last prayed for our military, please just take out a moment to do so today. Almost every day I hear complaints about the fact that we still have people there. But seldom do I hear a prayer for them.
Elizabeth's Sacrifice
John 15:12-14 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
Dedicated to an American sailor, my niece, Elizabeth:
When you took that step off the shore
And, on the Boxer, set out to sail,
I must admit, I lacked confidence
That my prayers for you would prevail.
I remember bathing you, combing your hair,
Taking you out in the yard to play,
Reading to you from ‘The Cat in the Hat,’
Not knowing how brave you’d have to be one day.
When you, young mothers, feel impatient
As they cut teeth and struggle to walk,
When they cry all night and you’re all they know,
And can’t tell you because they can’t talk,
Think of my sweet Elizabeth
And her most humble sacrifice.
Think of all the things she missed at home
While her own babies were paying the price.
I can’t give her back those precious months,
Jackson's first steps or Kacie's laughter.
But I know there’s a great reward set up
For sweet Elizabeth in the eternal hereafter.
Her sacrifice was so much greater
Than just eight months in the open sea;
She gave away precious moments of her life
For the likes of common men like you and me.
There’s nothing that we could ever do,
Nothing on this earth that was ever made,
That will ever make up for the sacrifice
That my sweet, sweet Elizabeth paid.
© Joyce Pool
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