The Patriotic Geek

I wouldn't want to sound all "preachy" about July 4th, but I do have a few thoughts to share this Independence Day.

Whether it is Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter or any other major holiday, it always seems like we gently over time, lose sight of the spirit and meaning behind them.  Not with any trace of malice; it is merely the slipping of time.  I believe that Independence day falls into that category.

How great of a sacrifice did those who have passed before us?  Can we treat so lightly the precious freedoms that were bought with the blood and bravery of patriots, both past and present?

I had the privilege recently of speaking to a veteran at a birthday party that my oldest son was invited to.  While the kids were going crazy with the water, I was sitting down with the adults.  The Grandpa of the birthday girl had mentioned to someone else about serving in Vietnam.  I decided to strike up a conversation with the man.  What an experience.

I told him first, on behalf of many, I wanted to say thank you for what he had done.  I and another gentleman who was also currently in the military, began talking with him about what he had experienced.  He said that he had enlisted instead of being drafted and started telling us about some of the harrowing experiences that he experienced while he was serving.  I  can only begin to imagine how I may have felt in his shoes.

He then got to a point in his narrative where strangely tears began to well up in his eyes.  He spoke of returning back from the war and receiving warning from his fellow soldiers.  They told him to be careful at the airport, because there may be some that would spit on him in protest.

He revealed that his life and the life of others were forever changed by their experiences.  To this day, he said he does not get much sleep and regularly is up surveying the area around his house, almost as if he were back in the conflict again.

To everyone like this precious man and their families who have and continue to buy the freedom I enjoy; Thank you!  I could never repay you enough in word or deed for the sacrifices you have made.  I simply pledge not to ever take these freedoms for granted.  I pray that you won't either.

I leave you with two things.

First, a video that I put together for a patriotic themed event that we had as an outreach a few years ago.




Secondly, the following quote from Samuel Adams:

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men."

~TGCD

The Grateful Geek

The internet is full of people giving thanks during this holiday season.  Family, friends and home; all things that this geek is also truly thankful for.  I knew that I wanted to do a post about my appreciation of these things as well.

For this particular post, though, I wanted to take a slightly different tack then the norm.  This Thanksgiving has really reinforced for me, the importance of giving thanks through adversity.  Though my circumstances this holiday were certainly far from horrific, I did find myself in circumstances that allowed me to give thanks through some minor inconveniences and annoyances.

1)  My kids got very sick, the night before Thanksgiving.   Both were coughing and miserable.  One had a temperature of 102.

----Grateful for a good mommy to help them and love them through these times.


2)  The Doctor said take them to the emergency room as a precaution.

----Grateful that we have insurance and that there were doctors and nurses trained and willing to help us.


3)  With the holiday, the pharmacy would not be open until more then a day later.

----Grateful that the hospital was willing to give my child the initial dose to get him through


4)  I was asked not to come see my parents home for Thanksgiving.  There was a fear that I would be introducing a nasty virus to a grandmother and a baby niece.

----While disappointed at not getting to go to see my family, I was grateful for the delicious care package of food delivered to us, early Thanksgiving afternoon.


5)  I kept getting interrupted while messing around on the computer by a wife needing things, one son sick and grumpy, and the other constantly wanting to play with me.

----So grateful for a family who need and value me, and actually want to spend time with me.


6)  Didn't get to sleep in my own bed (the kids were piled in with mom in our makeshift recovery ward).

----Grateful for a roof over me and a relatively comfortable sleep through the night.


7)  I had to try and think up a good post to put up on the blog.

----Grateful for the precious freedom of speech in this wonderful country, to speak my mind to others without fear.  I am also, of course, grateful for you.  You took time out of your day to read this entry, and I am humbled and thankful.

May God bless you and your family abundantly this season.  I hope that you always take the time to look around you and recognize the many things that you can truly be grateful for.

~ ~ ~ ~
I looked for a relevant quote for today, and found two good ones:

"If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart."  ~Socrates

"We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, 'Why did this happen to me?' unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way."  ~Author Unknown