~THE MEASURE OF A MAN~
A young man went off, to the war
today;
his mother softly wept, as she
earnestly prayed.
"Don't worry Mama, I'll be
alright;
it's my duty as an American, to
take a stand and fight".
Through swollen eyes, and a weakened
voice;
she said to him, "You made the
right choice.
But you take care, and bring back
alive;
the boy that I raised, and have loved
all his life".
She watched him leave, with his
suitcase in his hand;
she thought, "My little boy, has
become quite a man".
When they talked on the phone, they
both would pray;
for those who sacrificed, their lives
every day.
Then one night, as he knelt down
to pray;
he was caught in an explosion, and
it blew his hand away.
He layed there in shock, as they
took him away;
his seargant said softly, "Son,
you'll be okay.
I'm proud of you, for the measure
of a man;
is the willingness to die, for the
freedom of his land".
In the hospital, his seargant brought
him a note;
"I found this among your' belongings,
I think it's from home".
The young man read, what was written
in the letter;
"I'm waiting for you son, if it
takes forever.
Remember, no matter what happens to
you;
I'm so very proud, of the boy I once
knew.
But now you've become, a fine, young
man;
and I have to let you go, to make
your' stand.
No matter what, I will always love
you;
now you fight for your' country,
that's what a man should do.
If I never see this letter again,
I'll know that you're still alive;
if it comes back unopened, I'll know
you proudly died".
He closed the letter, with tears in
his eyes;
and for the first time, he felt like
a man inside.
"I'm coming home Mama", he softly
said;
"I may not be whole, but thank God
I'm not dead.
For He protected me, as I took my
stand;
and taught me the true meaning, of
the measure of a man".
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