Putting things into perspective...

Early this morning...around 2 a.m. to be more precise...as I laid in bed trying to sleep, it dawned on me what today is...so I posted the following status on my Facebook page:

"3 years ago today (one day after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait), I entered the Military Enlisted Processing Station (or MEPS) in Amarillo, TX. 23 years ago today, I raised my right hand and swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States...against ALL enemies...foreign AND domestic. Today, as my military career comes to a close, that oath is just as important to me as it was 23 years ago...and though I may no longer serve, I will always honor that oath. I am proud and honored to have served...and I thank those who have served, and who still are today. May God bless you all."

When I wrote this, I felt like I was simply rambling...sharing what I considered to be a milestone in my life.  I in no way expected the outpouring of such wonderful comments.  There were numerous "Thank you for your service" comments, as well as some other, more personal, comments...such as:

"You brought me to tears!  We need a lot more people like you in this world!  Love ya man!"

and

"Thanks Fellow Vet.  Congrats on a great career.  Through good time and bad, we both served.  Something that not everyone will do."

and

"Your heart has always been as big as Texas and you have always chosen to fill it with the love of God, family and country.  You still make my heart melt."

and

"Thank you VERY MUCH for your service to our country.  It's people like you, who serve in the military, that keep our country safe & that help us to remain the greatest country on earth!"

Reading these comments, I was honored...I was humbled...I was utterly speechless.  With everything that I fight through on a personal level each and every day, I felt far from deserving of these kind words.  But the comment that really stopped me in my tracks...and brought me to tears...was one posted by my own daughter.  She wrote:

"Thank you so much for everything you did and still do today!!!  You are one amazing father!!!!  I couldn't have asked for anyone better!!!  Thank you Mombee [my mother] for having such an amazing son!!!  He has done so much for my mom, the country and me!!!  I am very blessed to have your son as a father.  I love you daddy!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3"

Wow!  It took me a while to catch my breath.  Words cannot express the pride, gratitude, and love that I feel every time I read that.

Now, jump to this evening at church.  We had a guest speaker this evening, and he started the service with a little exercise.  Allow me to demonstrate...

The question was asked...What are some of your life roles?  I immediately thought of "Dad" and "husband" and "friend" and "son" and "employee"...just to name a few.

The next question asked was...What are some adjectives that you would use to describe your roles?  This got a little harder.  I wanted to say "good" and "loyal" and "trustworthy" and "honest" and "dependable"...but I started to feel a bit like I was bragging...and it was sounding eerily similar to the Boy Scout motto.  :)

The next couple of questions asked were more rhetorical in nature...Is this where you find your identity?  Is this where you find your worth?  Is this what defines you?  Man, talking about hitting close to home.  I tendency to strive to be a good person, someone that people can trust and come to for help.  Reading my daughter's comment on my status made me feel proud because she saw me as a good father and was proud of what I had done.  But have I focused too much on MY being and MY doing?  Am I showing my daughter that it is more important what others thank of you than what God sees in you?  Am I doing enough to show her God's ways and not MY ways?

Reading my daughter's comment today put into perspective my focus and goals.  The service tonight put into perspective just how much I rely on these worldly aspects of my life...and just how much they take away from what should be my true focus and goal...my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...  

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith...." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

I also need to focus on pointing my daughter towards Him as well...

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

It's amazing how God works sometimes...using a child and a guest speaker to help put things back into perspective...the correct perspective.