My heart is really heavy tonight for the families of the thousands of heroes we have deployed from Louisiana.
The pictures below are of service members and their families, whom are currently deployed from Louisiana. I ask you to look at these families in the pictures. Really look at them. Soak in the atmosphere.
Think of the struggles they will go through over the next year, the sadness which will enter their home. Don’t get me wrong, deployments are not always bad , there are many good things that come can from it, but there are numerous hurdles to overcome. There is an ever present emptiness, in which only your loved one can fill upon their return. One parent is now acting as both, taking care of the children, managing the finances, the yard work, the laundry, many while working a full-time job. Both parents may be deployed and the children are being cared for by a grandparent, aunt or uncle. The children may even be split up. Each child may react differently to the changes brought on by deployment, such as anger, sadness, acting out, rebellion. Somewhere in the state, a mother is praying for the safe return of their child or grandchild and a father swells with pride. A newlywed is sleeping alone and would give anything for just a brief moment to talk to the one they miss so much. The family has to persevere and work through these issues and it can be a roller coaster ride. This is an enormous and sometimes trying responsibility.
How can we help these heroes on the home front? What can we do to ease their stress? You may be thinking, “ these are thousands of families, we can’t possible help them all!”. You are correct. We may not be able to help them all but perhaps your act of kindness will inspire others to act. You may never know how many lives you have touched with one simple act.
I encourage you to reach out to those around you. Offer to cook a meal or motivate your church, social group or business organization to have an appreciation dinner for the families in your community (the schools and media are a great way to spread the word to the military families). Pick up a gift certificate to a nail salon or for a massage or offer to mow their lawn. Organize a school card signing for the children in the school whose family member is deployed. Write a letter, telling them of your appreciation for their sacrifice.
How can we, as a “Band of Angels”, as Sheila Stroup from Times-Picayune called us, support these families over the next year?
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Support our military families, hearts to home. Our Military Families should be in our thoughts each day as much as our troops!
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