When a Soldier comes home

[jimnyc]

I received this via email and thought I would share here... I cannot vouch for the last photo and who might have started the "email chain", but it's worth posting nonetheless, IMO.

When a Soldier comes home


When a Soldier comes home he finds it hard...

To listen to his son whine about being bored



To keep a straight face when people complain about potholes



To be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work



To be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad nights sleep



To be silent when people pray to God for a new car



To control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower



To be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying



To keep from laughing when anxious parents say they're afraid to send their kids off to summer camp



To keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather



To control his frustration when a colleague gripes about coffee being cold



To remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog



To be civil when people complain about their jobs



To just walk away when someone says they only get 2 weeks of vacation per year



To be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house



The only thing harder than being a soldier... is loving one

[Jess]

SILENT SCREAM

You cannot see a Silent Scream
When looking from outside.
But you might find a glimpse of it
While peering deep in someone’s eyes.
You will not hear a Silent Scream
In noisy, crowded rooms.
But if you sat down face to face
Your heart may sense its painful tune.
You shall not feel a Silent Scream
Amidst our fast-paced world.
But if you wandered near to it
Its anxious spirit might unfurl.
We walk right past a suffering soul
And often turn away.
Not strong enough to face the grief
This world has made him pay.
For Silent Screams are not unique
To those who fight and die.
The living warrior hell survived
Is left to hold his tears inside.

–Janet Seahorn, Ph.D.



from: http://tearsofawarrior.com/


I'm not pimping the site or the book, btw. It's something I found in my internet journeys and thought it worth sharing.

[Jess]

More from Tears of a Warrior:

"It is not your fault you had to endure such anguish. It is not your fault that your mind, body and soul now carry the wounds. It is not your fault that you continue to experience flashbacks, panic attacks and sensations of dread. It is, however your responsibility to confront the effects of the trauma, for if you don't, we as spouses, offspring and friends cannot help you. We cannot know what you refuse to reveal. We cannot support what we don't understand. Only you, the wounded warrior, can and must take the first steps - the first steps toward healing - the first steps toward a better life. The first steps toward keeping those who love you most safe from your unpredictable and unexplainable outbursts of impatience and rage."


This book is proving to be very interesting and informative, even for someone who has never been in the military. It gives us scummy civilians a look into what some of you go through every day. We still can't fully understand but at least we have some explanation.