Today my son called to tell me some news that took the wind right out of my sails. After 17 years in the Army and National Guard, he has been unable to pass his physical and is out of a job. He, with the new wife and baby. He injured his knee in December and hence cannot pass the physical. But it is an aggravation of an injury he sustained in Iraq when he was there 4 years ago. I cannot believe it is over just like that. I could go on and on in a political vein, but I am a mother and I know that disqualifies me as a rational observer. I am much too emotional about this.
He has been looking for a job and found one. He will either go to Afghanistan, Kuwait, or Iraq for a year. I heard this and said, without one molecule of irony, "NO, You CAN'T go!" As IF his mother telling him he can't go would make a difference. It is the only job he can find where he can make a decent wage. And when he comes home, he will use the GI bill to go to school.
I actually went to bed after hearing this. And I shook. And cried. And prayed.
The year he was in Iraq was the longest of my life. He said it was easier on him than me, but he is that kind of guy. I don't want him to leave his family. I don't want any of this.
I am going to mass now and I will pray my brains out. I need to stop this ridiculous attitude of mine. I feel selfish to ask for prayers for my son and myself, but I am asking anyway. Thank you.
You have no need to feel selfish. That is a very serious matter. We will pray that if it is God's will, something else will come up so that your son won't have to leave his family for a year. You would think after 17 years they could find him something else, but don't let me get started either.
ReplyDeleteI will pray too, Mary Christine. Please don't feel selfish requesting prayer for something so important. I'm with TLW - I don't really understand why they couldn't find him something else after all those years of service.
ReplyDeleteI will keep him in prayers. I don't know what type of opportunities there may be here but have him try this link which is the career center for the company I work for. I know there are a couple of seasonal openings posted but know nothing about them. Seasonal can turn into a full time opportunity sometimes. He is in Colorado? Go to Search Careers and then Search Jobs. http://www.energizer.com/about-energizer/career-center/Pages/career-center.aspx
ReplyDeleteYou have my prayers!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely have my prayers too. And I don't think you're being selfish in the least. You're his mother! As to being out of the military, I am under the impression that now Iraq is mostly over, the size of the military will be shrinking. If he's got a choice, Kuwait is a safe place to pick. My brother is teaching there right now.
ReplyDeleteI will pray for you both. Asking for help when we need it is surely good for us, Mary C, not selfish? I often do it and need to do it more often, come to that!
ReplyDeletePraying...
ReplyDelete-Julie
Thank you for your prayers everyone. Manny, I remember when my son went to Iraq, they went through Kuwait. On the way there, he called from Kuwait, and I was freaked out. On the way out of Iraq, he called from Kuwait, and I ran up and down the hallway at work telling anyone who would listen - "My son is out of Iraq, he is Kuwait!!!!!" It was the happiest news I had gotten for a long time. Kuwait would be on the more acceptable side of the equation.
ReplyDeleteAlso, he said that they are scaling back, just like they did in the Clinton era.