Soldiers, Warriors, and Veterans – By Sandy Kender

 

Definition of Soldier: 1) a soldier is someone who fights for their country and in what they believe, even if it means death – Urban Dictionary

2) a person who serves in an army; a person engaged in military service – Dictionary.com

Definition of Warrior: 1) a soldier, usually one who has both experience and skill in fighting, especially in the past – Cambridge English

Definition of Veteran: 1a) a former member of the armed forces;  b) an old soldier of long service;  2) a person of long experience usually in some occupation or skill – Merriam-Webster

REFLECTIONS ABOUT SERVICE

We do honor to the stars and stripes as the emblem of our country and the symbol of all that our patriotism means.

We identify the flag with almost everything we hold dear on earth.  It represents our peace and security, our civil and political liberty, our freedom of religious worship, our family, our friends, our home.  We see it in the great multitude of blessings, of rights and privileges that make up our country.

But when we look at our flag and behold it emblazoned with all our rights, we must remember that it is equally a symbol of our duties.  Every glory that we associate with it is the result of duty done.  A yearly contemplation of our flag strengthens and purifies the national conscience.  – Calvin Coolidge

VETERANS DAY

In the United States, Veterans Day is usually observed on November 11.  However, if it occurs on a Sunday then the following Monday is designated Veterans Day (Observed).  This year, 2018, Veterans Day falls on a Sunday, so Monday, the 12th of November is considered a federal holiday.  Today the writing of this Blog is dedicated to every Soldier, Warrior, and Veteran both living and deceased whom have served in all branches of the military, (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, & Coast Guard), through Battles of War & Peacetime on our USA soil and in foreign countries. FREEDOM has a price to pay and to those whom have paid the price, to what do we owe? It is nothing more or nothing less then RESPECT, HONOR, AND RECOGNITION to every human being that has said “Yes, I will go”. Whether or not we agree about the reasons that they voluntarily signed up, were drafted or deployed, each individual went forth for their own personal beliefs to fight for a cause worth fighting for. A Call of Duty based on Patriotic Principles of Unending Pride and Protection for the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATED, SACRIFICIAL SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer. ~ 2 Timothy 2:4 (NIV) 

*THE VETERANS IN MY LIFE*

Not Pictured:

ARMY

• David Leuthardt – Former Husband
• Justin Kender – Stepson
• Stephen Cline – Nephew

NAVY

• Jay L Williams, Sr. – Father-In-Law (Deceased)

MARINES

• John England – Cousin
• Angel Marraro –  Son-In-Law
• Michael Mrozinski – Cousin
• William “Billy” P Duckworth – Cousin

AIR FORCE

• Edward McCann – Uncle
• Cathy Thomas – Cousin
• Frank Thomas – Cousin’s Husband
• William A Duckworth – Uncle (Deceased)

I thank all of you for your courage, dedication, and service in our military.  How proud I am of all of you and so humbled of your calling to serve.

BATTLES, WARS AND CONFLICTS

There are all kinds of battles, wars and conflicts in this life.  Some of them are fought out in the literal battlefield where masses of soldiers from two opposing forces join together in enemy stance where engaged violent combat ensues causing devastating destruction, critical injury & maiming or brutal death of dedicated warriors fighting for a cause.  Trauma and death come to all who are attacked with unforgiving weaponry, taking no names with complete disregard of persons.  Assault is fierce and sacrifice of life is swift.

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:8 (ESV)

Conflicts take the form of an inner or outer struggle with oneself or others where the conflicting matter is either resolved or unresolved.  We all have internal conflicts.  Everyday we face situations or decisions that are often opposing, causing us to either learn and grow or to walk away and not face the matter at hand.  Sometimes the best thing to do IS to walk away before unnecessary conflict arises between others, that might lead to a personal battle if ensued.   These conflicts are a part of being human and create opportunities for problem solving, improving oneself in relationships to family, friends, workplace, and society.  On a larger scale, they can bring companies, corporations, & businesses of all sorts and sizes, and educational facilities of all levels to review and assess ways of operations in the hopes of bringing changes to their individual world of respective clients, customers, patients, students and employees.

Unfortunately, internal personal warfare can also cause negative outcomes.  Outcomes such as mental disorders, major health fallout, self-destruction of harming oneself or others, and most dreadfully, taking a life through suicide or homicide.  These are sobering facts of life and death when it comes to conflicts, battles and wars.  For a soldier who has fought in the throes of wartime or anyone who has experienced a terrifying event, the reality of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) has lingering and costly effects on most who suffer from this long-lasting condition far after the initial trauma occurred.

I lift up my eyes to the hills –where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. ~ Psalm 121:1-2  (NIV)

“For You have girded me with strength for battle;  You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”   Psalm 18:39 ~ New Heart English Bible

TYPES OF BATTLEFIELDS

Battlefields come in all different shapes and forms aside from the warring ground where true physical confrontation occurs and fighting does not cease until there is victory by an opposing conqueror.   Conflicts that manifest in the arena of flesh and blood “war rooms” are most often a result of emotional, mental, or spiritual warfare that cannot be contained or controlled by the person(s) in which the battle is raging. As a Veteran Paramedic for over 20 years,  I have responded to countless “bloody war room” emergency calls of domestic upheavals stemming from jealously, anger, alcohol and/or drug induced violence that resulted in either serious or critical injury; or suicidal/homicidal threats that sometimes tragically turned into their proclaimed outcomes.  These were the Contenders of Conflict where nothing was gained and all was lost in the battle.  Such tragedy and such desperate measures taken to end a valuable life.

Silent Struggles are fought mostly within, in which the eye of an onlooker would be unsuspecting that most everyone they walk by or encounter on a day-to-day basis is challenged by some kind of a struggle.  Our mind is the #1 Battlefield!  We can take hold of thoughts of negativity & destruction and turn them around to be positive and creative!

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. ~ Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

SPIRITUAL BATTLES

In the midst of battles from a very young age, I learned and still know that there is One who fights my battles for me! It is the Lord God, Most High! When I lay my troubles at His Feet and put on His Armor, He equips me with the Strength, Endurance, Wisdom, and Power needed to win whatever the warfare is. This is for the Spiritual Battles of Life where the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy all that is good, positive, and worthy. Most battles are spiritual when there is a fight within to capture and hold captive what we know to be decent, pure, right, and upstanding according to God’s Ways. The Enemy of our Soul, Satan, loves to take us down and keep us there, but Praise be to God who has given us the Victory through Jesus Christ. The Final Battle was won at the Cross of Calvary when Death could not hold the Savior in the burial tomb. The Resurrected King now sits at the Right Hand of the Father, interceding for us until The Final Fight on this earth is over.

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”   ~ Ephesians 6:11-17 (NIV)

NAME YOUR BATTLE

So what is your battle?  What are you fighting within that is either causing you to grow and become stronger or that you are avoiding and not wanting to deal with?  I have had many battles in my life that I have been engaged in, sometimes from my own doing and sometimes from the poor decisions of others who had a direct impact on my life because of my relationship with them.  The first and foremost battle was being born into a “dysfunctional” family.  Back in the 1990’s when this term was unleashed into society and I was in my early 30’s, a high awareness and self assessment of my upbringing gave me keen acknowledgement that yes, I had definitely grown up in a crazy world of craziness!  From the moment I was brought home after being born in the hospital, The Battle was already raging.  A home of chaos built with the effects of alcohol & violence, created instability & uncertainty which was always brewing; and from that, my battleground, was to behold my training for many more life challenges to come.

Those of us who have lived for decades can be called, “Veterans of Life”.  There is no one that walks the face of this Earth without trials or tribulations. These are determining factors of how we have grown in character, stamina, and strength.  During these times, is when we can draw close to God who cares and loves us so much that He will go before us and fight for us. –The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” ~ Exodus 14:14 — There is Purpose to Every Battle in our lives.  In winning or losing, it all depends on how we decide to fight.  Without God, The Almighty Warrior, we choose to take all of the hard hits that knock us off of our feet.  It is difficult to get back up when you are alone.  Sometimes, many never get back up and life becomes a losing battle in all aspects without any hope in sight.  I decided that I would never go into my battlefields alone.  — I will go before you and make the crooked paths straight;  I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron; ~ Isaiah 45:2  —  In prayer is where I prepare for the fight.  Even though it may seem that I am all alone in whatever I am facing, I am never alone.  Many victories have been mine all due to me depending on the supernatural strength of God.  It doesn’t matter how big or how small, anything that is difficult to overcome is worthy of calling out for help.  There is One who hears your cries.  God wants to help us if only we would ask.  Like a Mother or Father who loves and wants to help their child, this is how our Heavenly Father wants to be there for us.  He has never let me down.  He has never failed me and has always heard my cries and pleas for His Help.  No matter the time, place, or circumstance….ALWAYS HE IS THERE….

For all of the Soldiers, Warriors, and Veterans of both Military & Life ….

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” ~ Isaiah 43:2 ~ 

 

AUTHOR’S NOTE:  Thank you all for your encouraging words to me as I have set out on this new Blogging Endeavor!  Funny how I wrote about “Battles”!  I have been in a Blogging Battle over the last 3 weeks in trying to get this out in time for Veterans Day.  As you can see, this being the last day of November, that did not happen!  I am learning how to Balance My Blog within the Battles of My Everyday Life!  In all due respect to our Veterans for Veterans Day, I believe that it is NEVER to late to say thank you and to recognize them.  In fact, we all need to do it, (myself included), more than once a year and every opportunity that we can.

I hope that all of you had a wonderful, blessed THANKSGIVING!!  I know that I have so much to be thankful for! I am looking forward to the Christmas Season as I continue to write and share with you what is on my heart! See you Soon!  ~ Sandy