I saw a video recently that broke my heart.
There was an old man...
On a stage...
Dressed in his full military regalia.
On his uniform were the markings of a Hero...
A man who fought for his country...
Who lived and paid steep prices.
He began to cry on the stage...
And he addressed the crowd...
Telling them all...
It was not worth it.
The people he fought with...
Who died there beside him...
Believing that they were giving their lives to protect something they believed was sacred...
Freedom...
Freedom from tyranny...
Freedom for the chance to change your fate and rise above your station...
Freedom to live in peace.
When this Veteran looked at the country that so many gave their lives serving...
He said that it was not worth it.
This is a sentiment that I have seen many people struggle with when they looked back on their lives...
The struggle to wonder whether it was worth it...
The sacrifices...
The pains...
All the effort...
Trying to help others see the vision of the future that they have...
And warn them of the dangers that are lurking around.
Sometimes...
Things do not turn out the way we hoped...
And many people struggle with that...
Wondering if everything that they gave...
Was worth it.
I know that it feels like, perhaps, all of it was in vain.
But I disagree.
Perhaps...
Today...
Things have not gone the way that we wished...
But that does not mean that it was for naught.
What is it that we fight for?
Hope.
The spark of possibility.
The thing about a spark is that sometimes they do not immediately create a blaze.
But as long as "one" spark...
Catches in the heart of one person...
Who sees the sacrifices...
Who appreciates the gifts created from the struggles...
Who believes that the future can be improved yet...
As long as the "one" spark lands...
Then the hope still exists...
Can lead to another spark...
And the blaze may yet come.
What I know...
Is that I appreciate the gift...
And I will not squander it...
I know the blood that was spilled, which paid for this opportunity...
The dreams that were left on the battlefield so that so many others could pursue their dreams...
The souls that were lost so that so many more souls had a chance...
For something better.
I appreciate every Veteran who has, and will, give so much of their lives...
Up to their lives...
So that many more may have that hope in their lives.
I know it may be hard to see...
I know you may be wondering...
Was the fight worth it?
I believe that it was...
I will not let your sacrifice be in vain.
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