Taking Chance

Sunday afternoon, we walked into a video store to rent some movies. As Ron filled out the paperwork for a membership card, I began perusing the movies. It's been quite some time since we've rented movies and I was happy to see there were many new titles to chose from. When I came upon 'Taking Chance,'
I took it off the shelf and read the back of the box. It wouldn't be an easy movie to watch but I handed it to Ron as he joined me.
If you aren't familiar with the title, it's about a Marine officer who volunteers to accompany the body of a young marine who was killed in Iraq as he is returned home for his burial. The movie is riveting, and very emotional. Ron and I sat and watched it, and more often than not, tears streamed down our faces.
It is a movie which celebrates the spirit of Americans - their respect and admiration not only for a young marine, but for the officer who accompanied him on his final journey home.
Ron said he had wanted to see it but wanted to wait until Stephen was safely home. Still without giving anything away, the movie brought back the time in our lives when Stephen returned home from another deployment....9 days prior to the death of this young man in the province previously occupied by Stephen's unit. I remember how the violence picked up in the days following Stephen's return...and the prayers, both for Stephen's safe return and for those young Marines who had taken over.
As I mentioned, it is not an easy movie to watch - but because it is a true story the difficulty becomes a blessing as the viewer witnesses the respect and reverence given to the young Marine on his way home...and to the man who goes with him.
And it also brings home the memory of my friend Wendy's son who accompanied the body of his best friend home from Iraq 15 months ago. No, being a military mom isn't always easy - but it is a amazing to see the devotion and loyalty our children have toward their comrades. The heartache becomes a blessing as we see the values instilled in these men and women despite the personal cost.
My friend Nancy says this movie should be required viewing for all military families. Its' message is carried throughout the movie...and continues to hit home long after the DVD player is turned off. She also has a personal friend who has just been assigned as Chaplain at Dover AF base where returning heroes go after they have paid the ultimate price for freedom and before their final journey home. Please pray for Chaplain Sorensen as he assumes his new post and for all the heroes he receives...and the families who wait for them to return home one last time.
May God be with all who work at Dover Air Force base - who do their jobs daily not with obligation, but as a labor of love. And may He bless all those who bring our heroes to their final resting place, and the families they bring them to.
God bless our troops, and those who wait.