A Soldier's Judgement from his God

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[Jeff Head]

A Soldier's Judgement from his God (My Title)

To all who serve, or love or care for those who do...

The soldier stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass.

Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?

The soldier squared his shoulders
And said, No Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough;
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills just got too steep,

And I never passed a cry for help;
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much;
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets;
You've done your time in Hell.

[Dubya]

Thank you I will the him. Thanks for the url.

[Eaker]

Have a great Thanksgiving!!!

[Eaker]

Take care and stay safe!!!

[Ben Bolt]

Thanks to both of you .

[Ben Bolt]

This is nice !

[Dubya]

OK and you do the same.

[patton]

Airborne!

[joanie-f]

Thanks for the ping, Jeff. This poem brought a serious lump to my throat. I’ve e-mailed it to many people.

Along a similar line, I'd like to share with you, and John, Mike, and Dan, a little of what occurred here on Thanksgiving. (John, I know you will not be within internet access for a while yet, but hope you will have time to read this when you return) ....

Had twenty-one people -- family, and friends who have no family in the area -- to Thanksgiving dinner today. Some (those from distances) arrived last night, and others arrived at various times today.

There were about fifteen of us sitting in the livingroom talking early this afternoon when one of my sisters and her family arrived, brimming over with excitement. 'Turn FoxNew on! The President had Thanksgiving dinner with the troops in Baghdad!' she yelled.

Let me preface what follows by saying that most of the people who were here today are here every Thanksgiving, and their political views cover the spectrum from extreme right (no personal applause, if you please :) to borderline Marxism. So I generally try my best to exclude politics from the day's conversation (cleaning up blood, especially familial blood, and especially on Thanksgiving, is not a favorite pastime of mine. :)

An amazing thing happened over the next couple of hours, and permeated the entire day and evening. For a few hours, a heterogeneous group of people was glued to the television watching and listening, over and over again, to detailed descriptions of how this surprise visit to a hot war zone was planned and executed, the contingencies, interviews with Baghdad correspondents, and finally (as kept being promised across the crawl at the bottom of the screen) the delayed videos of the President’s entrance and speech.

When the President said 'We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost of casualties, defeat a ruthless dictator and liberate twenty-five million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins' the room here was in loud, vocal agreement. I glanced over at the borderline Marxist (my brother-in-law, whom I love, as much as one can manage to love a political fool :) and he was completely silent. To say that such behavior is out of character would be a gross understatement). I doubt that his silence signified agreement with the President's statement, but I rather believe that, at that particular emotional moment in joanie's livingroom, he feared for his life should he say anything typically leftist (an explanation that is treasure enough :).

Almost to a person, we were brimming over with pride and appreciation. Proud that our President saw fit to be there. Proud that he rightfully told the soldiers that he couldn't think of anyone with whom he would rather be sharing Thanksgiving dinner. Fascinated by the imagined vision of Air Force One flying stealthily into Baghdad International without lights, phones or communications equipment. Proud to watch our President in the Bob Hope tent, serving his 'Old Ironsides' First Armored Division their meal. Proud to see Old Glory hanging everywhere from the walls. Some of us brought to tears by the incredible reaction of the troops when they saw their Commander-in-Chief step out before them. Proud that the Commander-in-Chief appeared to have to fight back his own tears amid the thunderous applause of his men. And thrilled beyond description at the idea that depraved Hussein-loyal terrorists are no doubt livid that the American President pulled off this visit under their noses, and without a hitch.

I also received an e-mail tonight that did my heart good, from an old friend (a Canadian). Part of it reads: 'My Dad was stationed in England before ending up in Holland during World War II. He would tell of the Queen Mother dropping by to see how the Canadian troops were doing. Air Raid sirens were wailing on one occasion and the Queen Mother said she 'didn't pay attention to all that'. The soldiers loved her for that. Your Commander-in-Chief shows he is made of the same stuff!'

Most of us -- here on this forum, and in my livingroom today -- have some reservations or fears about this war – be they political, military, economic, etc. But I don't think there is a (true) American alive who wasn't heartened seeing his President sharing Thanksgiving dinner with our troops. I can't speak for those courageous soldiers themselves (although I believe their applause and warm, jubilant behavior spoke for itself), but I can tell you (infinitely less important, but much more personal) that President Bush made Thanksgiving in this particular American home even more warm and memorable than it would otherwise have been. I believe each and every one of us here in this house today – even those whose patriotism I sometimes question – ended this celebration of Thanksgiving feeling a little more thankful, and a little more proud to be an American.

Less momentous, but gratifying .... on the flight over to Baghdad, one of the movies that was shown on Air Force One was 'Open Range.' It sure doesn't get much better than that (I wonder if another might have been 'High Noon'? Guess I'm pressing my luck, huh? :)

Thank you, Mr. President, from all of us. I'll be hitting the pillow tonight prouder than ever to be an American, and understanding, perhaps more than ever, the true meaning of this wonderful American holiday.

~ joanie

[CharliefromKS]

Thanks for a beautiful post Joanie-f.

[FreedomIsNotNegotiable]

I have been a lurker here since August and I have been reading your posts and those of about ten other people regularly since then. This is one of your best, Joanie. Thank you.

Brandon

[Jeff Head]

What a wonderful experience you had Joanie, and so wonderfully articulated to the rest of us in terms that painted a picture in words that was better than had it been filmed for the rest of us.

The sentiments are shared. I do have some issues with our President, but not in his handling of the foreign war on terror and operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, or in how he has supported and bouyed up our troops.

What he did on Thursday was astonishingly direct and supportive. It has won the hearts of the troops (he already had those) and sent the correct message to enemies foriegn and domestic. Thank God for that message and resolution.

It rankles the liberals and those who hate our Republic and the rights, firm convictions, and moral steadfastness that it is based upon, along with the liberty and prosperity it produces.

Let them howl, let them rattle their chains. One clear minded, inspired and committed individual who sets their foot on the path of those convictions, principles and foundational truth that I just alluded to has more positive impact and effects the course of things properly for the good more than 10,000 of their ilk...more than all of them put together. President Bush is another living proof that this is so in this case.

Best rgeards my friend and the very best of this holiday season to you and yours.

[Jeff Head]

Brandon, Joanie has not been able to be as active on FR as she was was. This post is typical of her articulation and commitment to liberty and everything that goes into making it possible in our Republic. I like to call her the "Claire Wolfe" of the east coast.

Check out the archives between 1999 and 2001 and you will see that this is true.

Although its been three months, welcome to FR.

Happy holiday season, may the spirit of this season bless you and your house and everyone in it.

[Redleg Duke]

Thanks to you both. It says it all. It reminds me of one I learned in OCS at Ft. Sill in 1967:

"God and the Soldier, we adore,

In time of danger...not before.

The danger past and all things righted,

God is forgotten...and the Soldier slighted."

It was written by a Marleborough Veteran...now nearly 400 years ago!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets; You've done your time in Hell.

That really resonates, the human mind cannot fathom the contrast between this earth filled with death and fear, when compared to the peace and glory of heaven.

[MissAmericanPie]

Beautiful. Prophets are not the only ones knit together in their mother's wombs. The soldiers spirit and heart are knit together too.

[joanie-f]

Thanks for the kind words.

Brandon, as Jeff said, welcome to FreeRepublic. For the most part, you’ll find a haven here from the insanity of the leftist-oriented powers that be, and those who swallow their glib words. Here there are proportionately more independent, critical thinkers than you’ll find in your own neighborhood. Learn from those here, and teach us what you know as well.

~ joanie

[joanie-f]

Jeff, I remember your ‘Claire Wolfe of the east coast’ comment at the March for Liberty four years ago. I was deeply flattered by it then, and I am just as much now. Deserved or not, your kind words are much appreciated.

A lot can happen in four years. You were not a grandfather (twice over) four years ago. :) A wish for a blessed Christmas to you and your family, too.

~ joanie

[Jeff Head]

...it's now thrice over, Joanie. Riley was born to my first daughter four months ago, numer two grandson. Truly miraculous and humbling.

Time keeps marching ever onward towards the eventual time that the King of Peace will usher in true Peace to this earth. I look forward to that day and will continue to work towards it with myself and my own and wth as many of the talents the good Lord has blessed me with.

In the mortal world we live in now, we can help echo and project that eventuality around us through the good desires of our hearts and the actions and efforts that reflect them.