On September 11, 2001, our country woke up to find itself under attack. Many people died that day and for those of us who were old enough to witness it and remember, we will never forget. For one young woman, September 11th began with an engagement and today; her husband serves in the U.S. Armed Forces. This is her letter.
Rendering Aid
My dearest Lonnie,
I wrote this letter to the Marriage blog’s letters of love and I’m hoping they publish it. I’m sending a copy to you as well. I know you haven’t answered the last few emails and I’m sure that’s because you’re in the field. I wanted to write and tell you how proud I am of you and how much I miss you. I know another military wife did the same when they first started posting these letters.
In a few weeks, we celebrate five years of marriage. I know you won’t be here for the celebration and we’ll postpone our dinner and night on the town until you come home. You’re serving your country and your fellow soldiers. I have to say, I thought it was crazy when you told me you wanted to enlist – you were a medic and you were getting ready to go to medical school.
You’ve always wanted to be a doctor, but you summed it up when you said what you wanted to do was help people. It didn’t matter where those people were, but that you wanted to help. So now, you’re working as a medic for the soldiers overseas. From one war zone to another – I can’t imagine what it is that you see and do every day. But every note you send, every letter I read – you’re so happy with what you are doing.
I am proud of you. I want you to come home though; I want you to come home and be safe with us here and to finish your degree in medicine. But I won’t ask you to stop what you are doing, I couldn’t. Six and a half years ago, on September 11, 2001 – our lives changed. You asked me to marry you and our country faced disaster. I look back on that day with such mixed emotion.
I couldn’t wait to marry you, but you changed on that day. You were angry and you were hurt, but you channeled that anger and that hurt into your desire to help others. How can I not stand in awe of that dedication to your fellow Americans and any person that was hurt? You told me that, remember? You didn’t care who they were, what race they were — it was just important that you help everyone that you can.
You could be here, probably working as an Intern by now, but instead – you’re out there, walking right into the lion’s teeth if necessary – helping others. Whenever I get hit by those moments of doubt and resentment, I remember what you told me the day you left: you need to render aid and you need me to help you by supporting you. You could do anything if you knew that I loved you and that I was here for you.
So, this letter is my way of saying that I’m still here for you. I know you need to help all those you can and I need to be here for you – because I need to help you. My only regret is that I am so far away that I can’t hold you at night and render aid to you the way you are rendering aid to others. I love you Lonnie and I’m proud of you. If you think of nothing else this Valentine’s Day, think of me and know that I’m here. I can’t wait for your next letter.
Love,
Kim
Letters of Love
You write these letters of love for the ones you love. Do you have a letter of love that you want to write to your spouse? Whether they are here in the states, sleeping next to you night after night or far away in another state or another country. Do you have a letter of love that you would like to share?
Letters of Love are a part of our 14 Days of Romance here in the Marriage Blog, we hope you enjoy them!
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