Got "that" t-shirt?

Often, when asked how my day is—on a particularly bad day—I try to turn it around on the other person and ask them to tell me about theirs first. I do this for two reasons: 1) to let them get off their chest what they'd like to before I share my day's pain and 2) to make sure that I'm not complaining about spilled milk to someone that can't afford milk.

This is a strategy (I won't admit "manipulation") that has helped me put things into perspective, gotten me to appreciate what I have, and taught me to become a better listener. It's opened my eyes to facts like:

My MB (military brat) isn't the only "new kid in class" this year….my husband isn't the only one putting in 60-80 hr weeks and unable to hold his head up past dinner time…a friends' grandmother didn't see her husband for 2.5 years while he was away at WWII…

Did you catch that? 2.5 years.
What have you done these last 2.5 years? Some of you have packed a lifetime into those 2.5 years…you’ve dated, married, and started a family with your soldier. You probably went there, done that, and have the t-shirt for so many things. But maybe, that’s not what we need to focus on anymore.

Maybe we need to keep a list of things that haven’t happened because we have our soldier. We haven’t had to go on being unloved, we aren’t blasé, and we don’t/aren’t _______fill-in-the-blank________. I call it my “Thank You God: I didn’t have to wear that t-shirt” list.

Why don’t you all send us a few? Tell us why you’re thankful and what t-shirts you escaped wearing all because your soldier and you are together.

Caveat. Some people (soldiers, their families, their battle buddies) are in dire straights and really are having a hard time. It’s important that we’re there for them; so make you’re list, be encouraged by it, and get ready to encourage and really listen next time you have the opportunity. I know you’ll learn a lot, because I have.