You go before me and follow me...

There's this young man-

and he calls me mom.

He is somewhere out there...way West of where I am.

He used to be here in the morning when I got up to start my day.

His presence was evident by the piles that he left and the hobbies that spread out all over the house.

Now his room is clean and untouched.  

There's a layer of dust beginning to form over each surface.

He has a new room now...

One that I've never seen-

that he shares with people that I do not know.

It's been 9 weeks since I've seen his face

but it seems like much, much longer.

Though we have the occasional text or call

it's not the same.

He still calls me mom

and I still call him son-

But he's a Marine now

and someone else gets to tell him what to do.

He pledged his allegiance to a new set of "house rules"

and he has new brothers...

His family stands behind him

encouraging and praying him through

But that doesn't mean we don't miss him like crazy

or long to have him home.

He still belongs to us

and yet at the same time, 

he belongs to you too.

He stands at attention for hours at a time

and awaits a day when he would be called to be ready...

to 

fight 

serve 

defend

for me

for his family

and for you.

He and his brothers are being prepared to stand between us

 and whomever would threaten our safety-

But let's not forget that while our Nation slowly takes away the benefits they were lured in with

they are still standing in our stead

still willing to serve with

honor

courage

commitment

If I'd had the choice to choose for him

I would have chosen differently

I would have chosen less separation

less unknowns

I would have chosen for him to be home for birthdays and holidays and family movie nights

I would have chosen to know what he is doing from one day to the next

and to have this house warm with his presence.

But he chose service

and I choose to stand behind him as he does.

And today,

when missing his presence is so strong

I remind myself that while he serves, 

He is not Forgotten-

his name is written on the heart of God

and He is

where I cannot be...

"You go before me and follow me. 

You place your hand of blessing on my head."

Psalm 139:5