Don Tipton   -  Blog

As with many of us independent
artists I have a full time job to pay the bills. For me that job is
closely related to Hank Hill’s job, from King Of The Hill.
I work in the propane industry.
Well this past week something happened that made the war in Iraq hit close to home for me.
I
went to do a gas service check at a house in the country outside
Franklin, Tn, where some people had purchased this really nice house.
Nothing fancy just a nice place.
I went to the door , and a lady answered the door, I’d say she was around 25 or thereabouts.
She invited me in. I followed her to the to the kitchen to check out her range.
There
was a couple of men there, one at the kitchen table, and the other
standing in the middle of the kitchen, and there was a little girl
about 4 years old I’d say.
I
didn’t pay much attention at first, and went about my business checking
out the range. When I finished I asked the lady of the house to show me
to the dryer, and that’s when I noticed the man standing had a walking
stick, he was blind.
I
finished with the dryer, and asked if they had any gas logs. I followed
her to the basement, and as I checked out the logs, down on my knees in
front of the fireplace, we began talking.
I could tell by the boxes all around they had just moved in.
I
commented on their nice house, and she began telling me that they just
moved in, that her husband had been in the service, and he had been
stationed in Germany for eight years, and that’s where they met. She
was an Army brat, and her father was also stationed in Germany. Her
husband, and her had met, fell in love, got married, and had a little
girl, all while stationed in Germany.
I
said well at least your husband wasn’t stationed in Iraq, that’s when
she said, Well actually, he had been stationed in Iraq, and that’s were
he was when some type a flash weapon went off in his face, and now he
is blind,
There on my
knees in front of that fireplace, my heart sank. All I could say was
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I asked her, Do you think he would mind if I
thanked him for serving his country? She said, No that would be great.
When
I finished down stairs, and climbed back up the steps, her husband was
by himself sitting in the kitchen. I walked over and introduced myself,
and said, Sir I’d like to thank you for serving your country, and
laying your life on the line to protect freedom for all of us here.
He
shook my hand, and said, Your welcome. As I finished my gas check on
the rest on the rest of the house, all I could think about was how we
go on about our daily lives here in America, giving little thought to
the extreme sacrifice of our men, and women of our armed forces who are
laying it all on the line for us, everyday, with no regard to the fact
that they may be injured, or permanently disabled, or even killed to
protect our freedom.
I prayed for this man, and the others like him who are still laying it all on the line for America.
We take our freedom so lightly here in America
I
urge you to keep praying for our brave men, and women who are risking
their lives everyday for us while serving our country. Not just in
Iraq, but all around the world.
I
know that a lot of people are down on President Bush for sending our
troops to Iraq, but this country’s colors don’t run, never have, and
never will. Freedom is not free. It costs, but these men and women, and
our President deserve our respect, our honor, our prayers, and our
support.
Not a bunch of whining when things don’t go as quickly, or exactly as we had hoped.
The
President holds on office, that we, the American people, because of our
freedom, voted him into. If you don’t respect the man, at least respect
the office he holds, and continue to pray for him, and support him, and
our troops! We could have a dictator like Sadam, thank God for our
freedom, and thank God for men like this man who put his life on the
line for us.
Keep on praying American. Without our prayers, We will not be one nation under God, but just one nation under.
This
is one man’s humble opinion, and you may not agree, but thank God we
live in America where we have the right to disagree. This is a great
country, it’s not perfect, but there’s no other place on earth I’d
rather live. God Bess you, our troops, our President, and God Bless
America.
                                                                         A humble Servant Of Christ,

                                                                 Don Tipton