LA troops come home

This was written by my co-worker's adult son.

If you can't find a reason to smile today, consider your blessings...


I watched the news tonight. There was a story about a National Guard
Troop that returned from a years service in Iraq. They were from the State of
Louisiana. The military jet landed, and they were formed into a group of
soldiers at attention as they were commended, recognized and dismissed...
obviously a moment they had anticipated for a long time. At the dismissal, the
camera panned around to catch many sons and daughters showered with hugs and
kisses. Most of the interviews were what you would expect - "It's great to be
home, finally," and "it was this moment that kept me going everyday, ready to
get back home." But as reality sunk in, you knew that many of these 100+
soldiers were returning to nothing. A mother said, "I have nothing to cook my
son a home-cooked meal on..." and "I don't have the heart to tell her that we
have nothing left." But the part that struck me the hardest was the image of
soldiers that had no one to hug. They simply said goodbye to their fellow
soldiers and walked off... there was no one there to greet them.


Please remember in your prayers tonight the people that are not in
the forefront of this tragedy. The relief workers, the policemen, the families
abroad... and most importantly - the ones that just have nothing. Nothing is a
powerful lack of existence that most of us can not even comprehend. When you sit
in traffic today, or complain about the quality of a meal, or just feel too
tired to attack an everyday task, remember that we are blessed. Some of those
soldiers just picked up their bags and walked off camera...