A soldier is called to fight, and the spouse of a soldier is called to understand. Understanding makes you a hero, too. [Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul]
This quote really got to me. It makes so much sense and I totally agree with it. My husband has been on deployment for the past 4 & 1/2 months. We still have another 2 & 1/2 months to go until he may return to me, God willing. These have been some of the toughest 4 & 1/2 months that I have faced ever, I think. I had been preparing myself for it for months ahead because there had rumors of deployment for about 6 months before he actually left. So I would mentally prepare myself & then it wouldn't happen, but of course the time eventually came for his departure.
I would always ask him, "are you ready? is it really going to happen?" He always said he has to & yes it will happen but with a sad face of course. I Now realize he was only trying to be strong for us & for the military. This deployment wasn't something he chose to do but instead his job to fight. Then of course it became my job to understand. I may not fully comprehend all the aspects of deployment & why they must happen. Yet, I have begun to understand that it is inevitable as a soldier or sailor in his case.
Not a day goes by that I don't miss him. Some days are much more difficult than others but God always provides the strength for me to move forward another day. I am very thankful for that.