(a 3 minute read) Amy and Brett are a young couple with two children. Their two year old son is so adorable, you just want to scoop him off the floor and play with him non-stop. And if you thought their son is cute, you should see their 5 month old daughter. She is so cute and her legs, oh the folds in her legs make you think you are holding the baby in the Michelin tire commercial, and the clip-on bows that Amy places in her hair makes her even more delightfully lovable.

Amy serves in the military as part of the ground combat troops.  She has served in several tours, and each time has returned home safely. As proud as Amy is of her duty, each time she leaves to go on tour, there is a preparation period before her departure. The possibility of her dying in service of her country is tangible and palpable. Brett and Amy sit and talk about the possibility that she may not come back home. They both believe that it is best to have that discussion so that Amy knows how much Brett is proud of her serving their country. Both Brett and Amy know that if it was not for the people that offer their lives, to essentially protect their fellow citizens, their brothers and sisters, then their country is in peril and jeopardy. In spite of the possible consequences, not seeing her children grow up, graduate, marry and have their own children, this is a cause that is most worthy of all.

Brett has always been community minded, but more than talking about this problem or that issue in the community, he found ways to be involved, to try and make a difference. Brett was part of a collaboration effort addressing racial issues in their community. Violence was up, interactions between authorities and the community is in the news almost daily, and fingers pointed from one direction to the other and vice a versa.

Brett joined a neighborhood watch group that will patrol a gang infested town a few miles away from where they lived.  Amy was home from a tour just before Brett was to begin his patrolling duty.

You can imagine Amy’s reaction to what Brett is doing. This was not something Brett discussed over the internet with Amy. With the stress of combat, he was not about to lay on her what’s been happening in their community for the past 9 months. “You can be shot out there by some haphazard bullet”, Amy said as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Think of our children growing up without their father, killed by some random violence act”, she said while she gazed into his eyes and sobbed.

Brett took a step closer to Amy, gently held her head between her hands and said, “Sweetheart, if I said I am going out there to defend our faith, you’d say ‘I love this man and send me off’. If I said I am going out there to join the navy to defend our country, you’d say ‘proud of my husband and send me off’. Without our community, we would have no country and we would have no faith. So I am going out there to defend our community. Do you see what I am saying?”

They hugged, held each other tight and sobbed. May God our Lord and Creator protect and provide, and may PEACE and JOY abound.