...The only thing that you find yourself eating throughout the trip home and then some is the left over "P.O.G.G.I.E." that wasn't eaten while your brother(s) were at ALERT.
...Upon arriving, you find yourself doing many loads of laundry trying to get the infamous sand, grime, sweat, and all else out of the clothes even if it takes you a couple of times doing it.
...You find yourself striving to get a least one email or snail-mail letter out to the guys with words of encouragement and cheers to aid their aches and pains all throughout Basic. :)
...After graduation you are handed 1 Dress-white and 4 Chambray's per brother with patches, both the Logo and the bar signifying the promotion, to be perfectly measured at 2 inches for one and 3/4 inch for the other and find yourself sewing each perfectly in place
...As part of the care packages, you have made countless numbers of cookies, i.e. altogether about 580 No-Bake cookies, to be thoroughly enjoyed by your dear brothers and the rest of the Unit hoping that it puts smiles on their faces and makes their tummies happy. :)
...Countless amounts of prayer was prayed by you, your family, and many others on your brother's behalf all thorough Basic even if it's more then once a day :)
...If it seems that the only "song" going through your head are the "JODIES" that your brothers taught you since the day they came home with you: for example the Coke Cadence (which happens to be my favorite and is easily stuck in your head the first time you hear it)
...If your laundry folding is revolutionised by the "new" and "more efficient way" of folding things taught down at ALERT
...If your heart is filled with pride and adoration for the men that now have accomplished something so great through the Lord that nothing can take it from them knowing that though they went through such pain and turmoil to accomplish it, they now have something to share with generations to come as an encouragement to never give up, never retreat, to continue facing struggles in your path because eventually you will find yourself on the other side looking back down the road with a smile on your face seeing the one set of Footprints knowing that it was not you that walked the road alone but that of the Lord as He carried you all the way!
I know that there is so much more that I could say about being a recruits sister but I must say that being a Responders sister so wonderful as well! :) I cannot be more proud of what the Lord accomplished through my brothers and the wonderful men that they have become through this whole experience! :) I will never forget the letters sent home with lists of prayer requests regarding their struggles spiritually, physically, and mentally, but hearing what the Lord did to strengthen, uphold, embrace, encourage, (and the list could continue) my brothers has personally been a testimony in my life as I face trials, tribulations, refining fires, and hardships.
You know, we all one way or another will go through pain as we run our individual "races." One thing is for sure, God's grace is right there for us to take hold of and never let go but this is a choice that we have to make. Out of all the stories that my brothers continually tell, one thing seems to be the common denominator, "choices; rejoicing or grumbling, pressing on or giving up, grabbing hold of God's grace or walking the other way..." We are given a choice that we have to make every single day and that is whether or not we will "take up our crosses and follow Him" even if the "splinters" or "uneven surfaces" cut you. Yes this may sound rough but I know from experience, it is far better to be refined for God's glory keeping my focus on Him and His purposes rather than to turn and flee fearing the "pain and sorrow." :)
You and I have a choice to make, what will you choose?
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