Day 28 of Thankfulness ~ What the Army Taught Me

Day 28: What the Army Taught Me-from childhood until now- And Why I'm Thankful for It Seems like a weird day (Thanksgiving Day), to be thankful for what the Army has taught me, but when you think about it, it's really not weird. If you are a military family, you know exactly why today is a great day to be thankful for the military and what it has taught you. There are many, many reasons why, but at the top of our lists, it's probably something to do with "never taking anything for granted, because it (whatever it is) could be gone tomorrow". Here is a list of what the Army has taught me, from childhood until now! This is why I'm thankful for this type of life. These hard lessons learned: 1) The life of an Army family is an adventure and should be treated as such, if you want to maintain any level of sanity. ;) Help children to get through the storminess, without being stormy, yourself. Because ultimately, there are orders in your husband's hands that are signed by the Army, but ordained by God. There is a reason why you have to go where you are going. Teach yourself and your children to anticipate what God will do, at this new duty station. Look for his hand. SEE his mighty works!!! 2) Make friends with every person you come in contact with, especially neighbors and church family. You do not know what treasure these precious people have for you, your husband, or your children. I'm not saying you will "click" with everyone. Not at all. I'm saying, you need to try, because that person is probably there for a reason! Don't wait until you've lived somewhere for 2 years and finally feel settled in and ready to make friends. You will regret it, when a year later, you have to say goodbye. 3) Facebook is awesome for keeping in touch with the sheer amount of these people that God brings into your life, via the military. I'm so thankful that Facebook has made it a lot easier to stay connected, because there is absolutely no way I'd have time to write, email, or call all of these wonderful people! <3 4) Race, ethnicity, culture, and background should make absolutely no determination of friendship, value, importance, or worth. No racism, or prejudice should be allowed in your home! I went to school with all races, and loved it. I'm so thankful that the Army made people "all the same" in my eyes!!! I would have missed out on many blessings!!! Don't miss out on these!!! This is so important! <3 5) ABSENCE DOES NOT MAKE THE HEART GROW FONDER!!! It is quite the opposite. Deployments, hardship tours, and even short TDY makes you independent, too strong for your own good, causes breaks and gaps in communication, and causes cracks in the marriage relationship! Bad cracks!!! Satan uses these cracks to wreak havoc. Divorce, drug abuse, and suicide, are high in the military. Don't naively think that your marriage will last because you love each other. TAKE GREAT MEASURES to communicate, not be so independent, and share weakness with your spouse. Communicate the best you can. I know it's hard but it's worth it. I learned this lesson much later than I should have. I thought being the strong, independent, Army wife, who can handle anything, was somehow a good thing. God showed me it's not at all. 6). Ask for help when you need it. There will be times that you have a newborn baby and your husband leaves. There might be times when he misses the birth of his child. You can't do it alone. You CAN, but it's not a pretty outcome, or healthy for anyone. Ask for help!!! 7) Make EVERY holiday and birthday a huge deal because there will be times that your husband will have to miss something. If possible have Thanksgiving and Christmas in October if he's leaving! Plan ahead to celebrate a birthday or anniversary early, if he will be gone for one of them. 8) Become the best cook you can be! You don't have to be a gourmet cook but you need to know how to cook, so you are blessing to your husband! ;) He's been deployed and eating in the mess hall (or worse), in the field eating MREs, or TDY eating restaurant or fast food. The last thing he wants is food from a box! :). *SIDE NOTE: Husband, you will have to endure one more meal at a restaurant, sometime soon after your arrival home!! :). The last thing she wants to actually do, is cook and do dishes! <3 9) Build intimacy in all areas. This goes along with #5, but deeper. Use your imagination. ;) 10) Rely on God, not yourself. He ordained this life for you, he KNOWS every detail of what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen. All you have to do is walk in what he has planned/allowed to happen, in a manner worthy, of him. Don't take your eyes off Him, no matter what!!! NO MATTER WHAT! Don't quit!!! "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)" There's so much more I could write! These are just off the top of my head! Feel free to add to them, in the comments!