I Am The Mother of An American Soldier

You see me every day going about life as usual - or so it appears. I rub shoulders with you at work. I shop at Wal-Mart and the grocery store.  I fill my car at the corner gas station. You might see me anywhere.  Don't be deceived: My life has not been "normal" for months. I am the mother of an American soldier.

Although I continue the routines of life, I do so with a burdened heart and distracted mind. There are some tell-tale signs of who I am.

I'm the one with the frayed yellow ribbon pinned on my clothing. It was fresh and new when my son first deployed months ago. Even though the war is supposedly over, my son is in a place where bullets and grenades are still killing our soldiers. I am determined to wear my ribbon until he comes home, because it reminds me to pray for him every minute. When you see me wearing that ribbon, please stop and
whisper a prayer for him and all the others still there.

My house is the one with the faded yellow ribbons on the tree in the yard and one on the mail post. There is an American flag on a pole attached to the front porch, and a small red-and-white banner with a blue star in the middle in my window. When my son gave this to me before he left, I told him that I never wanted to cover the blue star with a gold one. Gold Star Mothers are the ones whose sons come home in body bags.

When you drive by a house of this description, please pray for the son or daughter overseas and for the parents waiting inside for their child to come home.

To those of you who have posted yellow ribbons at your house or in the windows of your schools, thank you. It warms my heart every time I see your expressions of support for our troops.

One of the hardest things about being the mother of an American soldier is living 1,500 miles (how bout 2600 miles!) away from the post of my son's unit. Wives usually live on or near the fort, where they can glean support from others in the same situation. But a mother may live across the nation, so she feels totally alone.

Letters rarely make their way home, and if they do, it is weeks after they were written. We go more than a month without hearing anything; then we might get a short phone call. E-mail is out of the question most of the time.

Every week is like a rollercoaster ride that I want to get off. When I read a soldier has been killed and his name has not been released pending notification of kin, restlessness, depression and insomnia rule my life until 24 hours have passed and the men in dress uniforms have not appeared at my door. I pray constantly they will never come.

When you hold your baby close, remember we mothers of American soldiers held our babies, too. Now our "babies" are putting themselves in harm's way for your babies.

And if you see a woman at the store buying tuna and crackers, beef jerky, powdered Gatorade, baby wipes and potted meat, check to see if she is wearing a yellow ribbon. If so, stop and pray for her. She is probably the mother of an American soldier, getting ready to send her child another "care package." You may see tears in her eyes or dark circles under them.

I am there among you, trying to carry on some semblance of a normal life. Like so many others, I am the mother of an American soldier.

A prayer for our families at Christmas/Hannukkah...

Written by a Blue Star Mom for their banquet.  This prayer is beautifully written and shares what is in our hearts this Christmas and could easily be adapted for any military organization or family:

 Eternal Father, we come here before You, grateful for the gift of Your unconditional love.  Thankful to You, we offer our heartfelt prayers for our dear sons and daughters, Your sons and daughters, who heard Your call to serve You and us and our great nation.

We ask You to bless them and all those present here who love them.  Bring close to our hearts those who will not be with us this holiday season, separated from us by the call of duty.  Welcome into the Heavenly kingdom Your brave sons and daughters who loved their comrades and the security of others more than their own lives.  Grant them joy and freedom from fear and pain.  Send their families the consolation of knowing those they lost will spend eternity with You.

Hasten the arrival of the day when we will welcome back to our soil our children, who serve You by protecting those who cannot protect themselves.  Reunite all those torn apart by war and turmoil; help them to see a brighter future.

Bless us all gathered here.  Grant us the strength to be faithful to You and our children.  Help us to be beacons of light and love to them in these uncertain times.  Allow us to appreciate the great gift our children are; fill our hearts with pride as they share their gifts with the world.  Give us the strength to wait patiently for their return; give them the strength to fulfill their mission and return safely to their homes.

In this season of love and light, bring us closer to those we love, and bless richly the Blue Star Mothers.  Bless their noble cause, and keep them steadfast in the service of our armed forces.

We ask you to hear this and all our prayers.  Amen

Humbly submitted by:  Marianne Wojciechowicz

1st Vice President, Blue Star Mothers of Southern Nevada