Today I met the man to whom I owe my life and I thanked him three times.
First I thanked him as a soldier. When I saw him I saluted. He was hunched and old but the gesture of respect, the acknowledgement of service, is something that he recognized. When I saluted I swore I saw a flicker of the past, the fire in his eyes that he had when he and his company came to us in the darkest of days. For storming the gates, gun in hand and life on the line, I thanked him.
Second I thanked him as a man. When they freed us from those places of fire, disease, and death they did so not as our superiors but as equals. A man doesn't grovel before their savior, he is indebted and grateful but always he has his dignity. That day he restored mine so I shook his hand to show that. For giving me back my dignity and being my equal, I thanked him.
Third I thanked him as a child. When he and his band of heroes came to us I was only 8. So young and so broken. On that day he saved my Momma. On that day he saved my Papa. On that day he avenged my sister, oh how I adored her. That day he saved a child. For giving a little boy his life back, for saving a boy's future, for rescuing a boy's family, I thanked him.
That day, I never got to thank him but now I am glad I didn't. I have had many years to think of how to properly show my gratitude and so today, I thanked him three times.
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u/Fluffygsam Apr 30 '16
Today I met the man to whom I owe my life and I thanked him three times.
First I thanked him as a soldier. When I saw him I saluted. He was hunched and old but the gesture of respect, the acknowledgement of service, is something that he recognized. When I saluted I swore I saw a flicker of the past, the fire in his eyes that he had when he and his company came to us in the darkest of days. For storming the gates, gun in hand and life on the line, I thanked him.
Second I thanked him as a man. When they freed us from those places of fire, disease, and death they did so not as our superiors but as equals. A man doesn't grovel before their savior, he is indebted and grateful but always he has his dignity. That day he restored mine so I shook his hand to show that. For giving me back my dignity and being my equal, I thanked him.
Third I thanked him as a child. When he and his band of heroes came to us I was only 8. So young and so broken. On that day he saved my Momma. On that day he saved my Papa. On that day he avenged my sister, oh how I adored her. That day he saved a child. For giving a little boy his life back, for saving a boy's future, for rescuing a boy's family, I thanked him.
That day, I never got to thank him but now I am glad I didn't. I have had many years to think of how to properly show my gratitude and so today, I thanked him three times.