As I have listened to various tributes to our military veterans today, I began to think about my favorite veteran of all time, my father in law Thomas D. Segel. Tom was a decorated and twice wounded soldier who served for 26 years in the U.S. Marine Corp in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He is a published author of the book “Men in Space” which was selected for both national high school and junior high library lists and he received the Thomas Jefferson Award for Journalistic Excellence as well as being named Military Writer of the Year. Tom loved to write editorials on various current event topics as they pertained to veterans and military families. It dawned on me this morning that he would get a kick out of my blog and I suddenly felt as much as saw in my memory his encouraging smile. We lost Tom 8 years ago and the world has never been the same.
My style is a bit different from his, but Tom’s history of boldness in his writing inspired me even when I wasn’t aware and of course had no idea that someday I would pick up the torch. I long for the evenings I spent at his house listening to his take on the latest political scandal while the then truly conservative Fox News blared in the background. Tom would pitch a fit if he was here today to see how things have changed. Oh how I want to hear his opinion on this election and all that is going on. He would have so much material for his editorials now!
I am so blessed to have had Tom as a father in law and grandfather to my children. The kids have had so many milestones since he passed and so many more soon to come; his presence is very much missed. Tom and my mother in law Pat- whom we lost a little over a year ago- were one of a kind. They had been married for just shy of 62 years when Tom died and were the symbol of resilience and persistence, something that seems to be fading away in today’s world. Like many in their generation, they demonstrated through their lives the moral foundation that our country was built upon and that our soldiers have fought for. When I was in their house, all the world was right. I miss that.
Tom may not be physically with us any longer, but I feel his spirit encouraging me to press on during this trying time, to have faith in the Lord and His perfect plan and to continue to instill in my own children the morals and values that Tom and Pat held dear. I take comfort in the knowledge that we will see him again and hear his thoughts on everything that happened in the world since his passing, which is A LOT.
One other reflection today has to do with today’s date, 11/11. I had an interesting thing happen to me in August of 2015. I woke from a dream with a gasp and the message “Lift up your eyes, your redemption draws nigh. 1111” That was it. I was left a little shaken and proceeded to spend months trying to figure out what the 1111 was about. The bible says none of us will know the day or the hour of Jesus’ return so I knew this wasn’t a date or time for the rapture. But a strange thing started happening. From that day forward, I began to see 11:11 on my clock almost every day, both am and pm. The same thing started happening to my husband. It almost became a joke it happened so often. It continues to this day. After much searching and prayer, I felt that this number became God’s alert signal to me that said “What are you doing for me today? I am coming soon!” Around the same time, God put a verse on my heart:
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Acts 20:24
So every time I see 11:11 on my clock, I am reminded that time is short and I am here on a mission and must use my time wisely. God’s persistence amazes me. I feel such a close connection to Him every time I get this “message” but at the same time I have no excuse for not doing my job. He must know that I am easily forgetful and has accounted for everything. Just thought I’d share that today, Veteran’s Day November 11th. Now tell me your interesting stories!
❤️
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