Dear Military Spouse,

 

Sometimes I catch myself longing for a world that is not my own.  I know deep in my heart that no amount of civilian life would satisfy this longing for home.  I was made to be with the one that created me and to dwell in his house, not this crooked world.
But I find myself a military spouse learning to embrace this life.

It won’t take a young military spouse long to understand other wives.

There are the wonderful sisters that pull you out of that base home to see sunlight and cheer you on.
The ones that let you cry but teach through example on how to pull yourself together and keep moving on.
Also the ones that wave their disapproving finger towards you. Thinking they have it all figured out and are ashamed by the way you are handling a deployment or for not remembering the rules.
Then there are the seasoned wives who have experienced years of this life. The best ones will wrap an arm around your shoulder and share their stories in hopes of preventing you from making their mistakes.  (Listen to them and soak in their wise words.)
This military spouse sisterhood is a giant melting pot of women from all walks of life, with different upbringings making us each unique.
We clash, there’s no doubt about that.  After all, we have learned to fix broken toilets, change a flat tire, and manage an entire home on our own.
We’ve become independent in many ways, for the good and sometimes for the bad.

The truth is I need you and you need me to lean on each other when no one else can relate.  Have you ever sat across from another military wife and both laughed and cried because this role we’re called to drives you absolutely crazy?
They don’t have to say much because there is a silent understanding of the other’s circumstances.  We get each other.

Sometimes I hear mean comments about us.  That we are fat, cheats, lazy, and catty.
Yes, I could stand to lose some weight and often times I’m exhausted and when I’m hurt I tend to gossip about it.  But when I look at most of you I see these incredible women that love their spouse and children and are trying.  Trying to make something out of the cards we picked up.  The comments will always roll-in but may I encourage you to push them aside?  Don’t take them personally because they don’t know you or understand your lot in life.

There is no cookie cutter version of  what a military spouse should be or look like.  I invite you to be you.  If you slip up remember tomorrow starts a brand new day!
You’re appreciated today.  If you haven’t heard that enough, let it sink in for a minute.  Thank you for picking up at a moments notice to move, for learning to make a marriage work long distance and when he has little time for you, doing the laundry week after week, and reaching out to others when you need someone to reach out to you.
This lifestyle isn’t easy and sometimes we’re going to long for consistency, control, and calm, that’s normal.  We can still try to see the silver lining though.
And when we fail to see the bright side know that tomorrow is a fresh start.
“…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Thank you for being the greatest friends I’ve ever known.  I’m so blessed to be a part of this community and have met so many of you.  You’ve taught me and held this young sometimes weak military spouse together these last few years and I could never say thank you enough.

<3Laura