A Little Braver.

 

 Shoes and Dress- c/o Oasap, Bracelets- Threads

I can honestly say that the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays of the year. Celebrating freedom, and bravery, and the people that protect us every day makes the American in me get really really excited. I heard a story today that I will never forget, and I know that you wont either.

Several years ago, while checking out at a store at the mall, the cashier relayed this story to my friend. It happened to him. And I believe that he wanted to share it with someone so that the story would continue to be shared to others.

The man at the mall had just been honorably discharged from the army because of how badly he was wounded. His assignment was to be a part of a convoy that was right in the middle of all the battle. He and his soldiers would go to different dangerous sections of Iraq, and clear them out. This always ended in rapid gunfire and a lot of wounded men. On one particular day, after a lot of battle, the soldiers saw a little girl walking through the street. They were just leaving and would always give stuffed animals to the children that they saw. As normal, they gave her one and went on their way.

Two days later the convey of men went back to the location to check up on things, and make sure that it was still safe. As they were reaching their location, there she sad. The sweet, little girl, clutching her stuffed animal in the middle of the street. She had sat there for two days, waiting for the soldiers to return. They didn't know what happened to her family, but realized that she was alone.

The little girl had been sitting in front of a land mine. She told them she sat and waited because she knew they would be coming back, and if she had left, they all would have lost their lives. She was their real life angel. One of the soldiers ended up adopting her, and these men will be forever thankful for their lives being spared.

Living in the country that we do, we have opportunities to reach out, and have been given the knowledge and tools that we need to help the people around us. Most of us will never be asked to perform a task that extreme, but it's in the little things that we can do every day that could be what saves our neighbor from heartache, loneliness, or hunger. 

I truly believe that where much is given, much is required. And we have been given so, so much. How blessed we are to live in a country where we have the ability to lend a helping hand, because we don't have to constantly look over our shoulder to bombs and chaos threatening our lives. We can get an education, drink clean water, open up businesses and have free trade with one another. We aren't put in jail if the government doesn't like what we have to say and we have a constitution that protects our rights. We can worship what or who however we want, and we have the freedom to reach our full potential. I hope I take advantage of these things that so many would die to have. Many have died so that we can have these things. 

Let's all act a little braver. And be a little kinder, so that the roots of what it means to be American is something that is felt.