Today is Memorial Day, a day when we stop as a nation to remember the sacrifices women and men have made to keep our nation free. Dad reminded me that today is the actual date of the first Memorial Day, May 30.
I am so grateful to those who have dedicated their lives to defending our country. In more ways than I can even imagine, they have given their lives, their bodies, their relationships, and their hearts to defending our rights as Americans. I know I will never be eloquent enough to express my thanks.
As the daughter of a man who served in the Air Force for 28 years, I understand a little bit about the sacrifices Mom made to keep our family together while Dad served. My brother-in-law served in the army, and I watched Carla pack and relocate and care for her four girls during all their moves. There is tremendous stress on a family as they pick up their lives time after time to leave family and friends to stay with their spouse. I think on Memorial Day we should honor military spouses, too.
I know there are mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers who lost children or siblings to war. Too many sacrifices by too many.
In light of all we are remembering, it makes me think of the sacrifice occurring in my parent’s house. Although it doesn’t have anything to do with service to a country, it is sacrifice on a different scale.
Dad cares for Mom during the night so he gives up his rest. For many years, he has given up his freedom to go out and see friends or go to church. He has set aside his life to care for her. As he has hired caregivers to assist, he has given financially. Again in more ways than I can imagine, he has given his life, his body, his relationships and his heart to caring for Mom.
When the time comes for me to love Michael “in sickness…until death us part,” I wonder if I’ll ever be able to measure up to the way Dad has loved Mom. He is so completely and utterly devoted to her. He is patient, far beyond the capacity I thought he possessed. I have seen sides of Dad that I didn’t know existed in the past few years. There is a tenderness for her that is so much more than words.
Most days, Mom is easy to love. She’s a delight. Even on days she’s more difficult, Dad has served her sacrificially. It’s humbling to watch him serve her. It’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make because he loves her, no matter what.
