Half our heart

It is always amazing to me how something literally half a world away can tear at your heart. Within the last few weeks, so many of the wonderful spouses I knew when we were in Germany have sent half their hearts away for yet another deployment. 

As I have seen each one post pictures of their last weekend together for a while or pictures of deployment day, I understand the journey they are getting ready to embark on.  I've spent a lot of time with these spouses, as many of us endured the last deployment together.  We met challenges together and when the end of the tour came, we decorated together and then when they were home, we celebrated together. 

But you see, there is a funny thing within that...  Because as we said goodbye to them to deploy, another group was looking forward to them getting in country, the unit they are replacing.  As tears are filling one spouses eyes, another is prepping for their soldier to come home.  A true and complete opposite of each other.

All of this takes place outside of most people's field of view.  They may see pictures or video on the news or posted on the internet, but they will never feel the emotions as you see that uniform walk away or the overwhelming joy and your heart skipping a beat when they march into that welcome home ceremony.  To most it's another picture of a soldier and their family, but to the person whose arms they are in - they are the husband, the father, the wife, the mother, the son, the daughter, the hero, the protector, the soldier that so quietly sacrifices.  And it is their family who keeps the homefires burning and supports their soldier while they are away. 

This job isn't easy, it was never intended to be.  But none the less, it is a job that has to be done.  So next time you see a picture of a soldier deploying or coming home, remember that to us they aren't just a uniform - they are the other half of our heart.