Tuesday, May 29, 2012

A Greater Gift



"No person was ever honored for what he recieved.  Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
~Calvin Coolidge


This life is a gift of many luxuries and hardships
that we receive freely like roses from a lover's hand.

We reach out and accept each package
until one day a little boy turns into a bigger man.

Soon the choices that lay before him
have a heavier price to pay.

What has been handed to him in the past
becomes a greater gift to give away.

All the blessings we take for granted
he gives up when he accepts a soldier's creed.

He fights a bigger battle for the many
beyond one man's hopes and one man's dreams.

This life is a gift of many joys and adversities
that we receive freely like stars on a cloudless night.

Yet the freedoms we hold to enjoy this bounty
is a greater gift that always holds a greater price.





There are many things that we take for granted in this life.  Gifts that we enjoy every day.  From a beautiful sunrise to a starlit sky our eyes are filled with many wonders, like presents in an open hand.  Yet, the busy world we live in has a way of obstructing our view, causing our struggle to keep up the pace to steal away our gratitude.  We forget that the freedoms that we enjoy have given us the rights we so take for granted on a daily basis.  These same freedoms were given to us in the ultimate sacrifice of bravery and that is a greater gift than we could ever repay.  I know that Memorial Day has come and gone again as it does every year, but I hope that we all will consider those brave souls both living and layed to rest and always honor them every day of the year.


9 comments:

  1. I am struck by this quote. Hope your week will go well.

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  2. this freedom does come at a great price...thankful for those that gave all you know...and i am glad you kept it real for memorial day...nice write

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  3. Carrie I believe this is my favorite so far :-)

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  4. Lovely testament, Carrie.

    http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2012/05/26/all-you-got/

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  5. Beautiful, Carrie........and God bless the soldiers returning from battle, suffering from all they have seen and experienced. May they relearn peace of mind, and may we all help them to do so.

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  6. Yes, Carrie, we definitely need to honor these soldiers not only on Memorial Day but every day of the year! A beautiful write.

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  7. Take nothing for granted. Thanks for the reminder. Nice Memorial Day tribute.

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  8. amazing memorial tribute- me likes!

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  9. This is a very nice recognition of the sacrifice that we so often forget. I know of a few men and women who have served our country, both, young and old who would so appreciate these words.

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