Saying Goodbye to Our Babies

Maybe it's because I spent so many years caring for families with new babies, but I woke up this morning thinking about the mothers and fathers of the sons and daughters who've gone to war. How incredibly frightening and heartbreaking that would be.

I remember fondly the first moments I held my babies. Miraculously, their cries filled the delivery room with what can only be called the most beautiful music on earth. (Arguably more wonderful just then, than at two in the morning for weeks later.)

Not long after, those babies began toddling about, and would've hurt themselves more often if we parents hadn't been there to keep them out of harm's way.

Then came middle school and the beginning of the psychological challenges of the teen years. Emotions ran high and the power struggles were real, but my larger concern was that they wouldn't grow into independent adults with good work ethics.

Today I'm pausing my reminiscing there in honour of the mothers and fathers who never had the opportunity for that concern. (You know -- the one often voiced today -- that kids nowadays may grow into adulthood and still be living in their parent's basements with no job or ambition to get one.)

No, the parents sending their children off to war would never have thought, or said, that. These parents very real concerns and prayers were fixed on their children coming home safely, not returning damaged, or not coming home at all.

When I hear and read about times of war, and what our forefathers and mothers fought for, it brings tears to my eyes. Similar to how I feel about what Jesus did on the cross, the gravity of what was done for me by soldiers willing to die so that I can sit here in all my freedoms today, is overwhelming.

As I recently watched our daughter-in-law smile down into our newest grandchild's eyes, I thought of the North American mothers of not long ago. As they held their young children they would've never dreamt that in only a few short years they'd be hugging them hard, saying goodbye, and sending them off to war.

I hope and pray that the new mothers of today won't be doing the same in the future. Frankly, the thought of any bit of that history disrespectfully not being taught in our schools today, makes me cringe. If that is so, how will the worst days in our history not be repeated?

If we don't guard our past, and teach the younger generations all of it - the good and the bad - I fear they will relive it. Each of our freedoms were bought with a price, and that price brought much sorrow to many.

Yes, war is horrible, and although not currently happening in North America it still rages in many other countries on this very day.

May we NEVER stop teaching about, and remembering, what was done for us. And ... may we never again have to say goodbye to our babies.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

May God bless you all, as we remember ...

Pattie Janzen

IMPORTANT NOTE and an APOLOGY: As I've mentioned before, I am more than willing to accept any comments or prayer requests. I do fervently pray for everyone who might read anything I write.

Something I didn't realize until now: it appears that if I comment directly to someone on a blog, my name might be seen as "Candace Enslen".

Candace is the wonderful person who designed this website for me, but if her name comes up, be assured that she is not the person replying to you. That has, and will always be me, as long as I have this website running.

This, again, blazingly proves my technically-challenged status. I have contacted Candace and I feel optimistic that SHE will fix this issue. My deepest apologies for the confusion this may have caused.

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