Laughable

Sometimes I just crack myself up. And not always in a good way. Ever been there? (We won't discuss how many times this happens a day.)

So here is what has me baffled by myself at the moment.

We recently took a trip out to see my family. My mom is currently working for a contractor overseas in Iraq. So right away you are thinking IRAQ?! Right. Not a pretty place or a safe place to be just now whether you are in the military or not.

Do you know what has had me worried? Her travel home. Her commercial flights home to the states.

Is that not ridiculous? I just couldn't believe how silly and naive I had let myself become! All so I didn't really have to contemplate where she was and how much danger she could be in on a daily basis.

What has changed between then and now to make me see how silly my previous worries were?

The day before she was set to come home someone she worked with day in and day out was killed. It was tragic and unexpected. The whole incident has really touched a chord with me. You want to know what touched me even more? What my mom did in the aftermath. You want to know what kind of woman my mom is? Unbelievably strong in ways I cannot begin to comprehend.

See, this co-worker of hers also had family in the area working. As you can most certainly understand they wanted to travel home with, escort, their beloved family member back to the states. There are so many details between here and there that have to be taken care of in order to make such things possible. Who declined their flight home to stay and make sure each step of the way this family was taken care of? My mom. She followed their every move and was always one or more steps ahead of them making calls and arranging as many details as she could to see that the family stayed with the body the whole way home. It was only after she had taken them as far as was in her control that she then put herself back on the list so she could come home for a little R&R.

I love you, Mom. And I so appreciate your strength of character. I can only imagine how much what you did meant to the family. Maybe they don't even really know all you did. But I know and I don't think I'll soon forget. I imagine you won't either. Hope your time home was truly a respite from the day to day grind and that it was also full of rest! :)

I won't be taking your safety for granted anymore, that much is for certain and for sure. I won't worry myself sick either, but instead allow my knees to hit the carpet and my heart to give it over the One who has always had you in the palm of His hand.