To Protect and Serve::God's Work

I stared at this picture for a long time. I look at this child's face and see pain, sadness and PRIDE.

FYI: This post is not about health, nutrition or wellness. This is a tribute to those who risk their lives for our freedom and safety. This is also a tribute to those who stand behind these men and women. I want to acknowledge the heartache and sacrifice faced by those working to protect and serve and the people who love these men and women. These feelings have been weighing heavily on my heart lately with the holidays and my sister's boyfriend's departure to the US Army.

I have had a lot of people in my life think it's crazy that I married a cop. I have had total strangers tell me my relationship will fail, simply because cops are "this way, that way, are at risk of this, or that." I've learned to ignore the stereotypes and the statistics. I have made a decision to embrace the job that my husband has because it makes him happy and because I am PROUD. He is truly doing God's work; protecting the good and eliminating the evils of society to the best of his ability. He sees what you would never want to see. He communicates with the people you avoid eye contact with on the street and knows them by name. There's a whole lot of ugly in this society that most people are completely oblivious to. At the end of the day, he does this job because he wants to do good for our society.



My sister's boyfriend, Evan, left for a four year venture with the US Army. He graduated from UCLA, has a wonderful family and a loving girlfriend who is going to miss him terribly. It breaks my heart to see my sister so devastated that the man she loves will not physically be with her for the next four years. However, in my sister, I see the same pride that I have for Jared. She is proud of Evan; proud that she has a man who loves her and loves his country. He wants to do good for our nation, he is working for the greater good.


These men and women sacrifice everything to protect you, your home, your freedom, your education, your children. They protect the people who can't protect themselves. They risk their lives selflessly.

It isn't easy being on "this side," either. We see and hear the heartbreaking stories, the frustrating stories, the injustices and the misrepresentation of the people we love and what their careers represent. Many moments are missed and holidays are missed or celebrated on other days. We have pride in our loved ones. We have pride in the greater good. We have pride in the strength of the men and women serving, and pride in ourselves for standing by our loved ones, despite the criticism. Our pride is our number one strength.

For all those serving in the military, law enforcement and fire departments, thank you for keeping our nation safe, our community safe and our families safe. Thank you to the families of these men and women. It isn't easy on either side of this, but it is worth recognizing and defending. Hold your head high, because no one can question or argue against doing God's work.