I got this in an email and I thought I’d post it here for all.  There is no disputing that I am a patriot; I am proud of our country; I am an American. Yes, we have our ups and downs, and once upon a time I heard a song about American called “She’s a Big Ol’ Bitch” because, well, she has her ups and downs (no, I don’t remember the band, it was during a lunch concert at CSUF in the late 80s).  But, I have the deepest respect and admiration for our soldiers throughout the world, and particularly Iraq and Afghanistan right now.  The job they are performing is dirty, ugly, unpleasant, and painful, for all of us.  This post is for them.

WHEN A SOLDIER COMES HOME

When a soldier comes home, he finds it hard…

…to listen to his son whine about being bored.

…to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.

…to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work.

…to be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad night’s sleep.

…to be silent when people pray for a new car.

…to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.

…to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying.

…to keep from laughing when anxious parents say they’re afraid to send their kids off to summer camp.

…to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather.

…to control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold.

…to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog.

…to be civil to people who complain about their jobs.

…to just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation a year.

…to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.

 

The only thing harder than being a soldier…

…is loving one.