Latter Day Warrior
A young warrior prepares for his day ahead. After all, he has known
this day would come since he took his very first steps. He was taught as
a little boy that he was a hero, saved for these final days of battle.
He was taught that the enemy was real and would try day after day to
stop him from learning and growing into what he has now become. He is a
warrior, valiant, strong, mighty in his conviction, and unrelenting in
his beliefs of good versus evil. He understands that right will prevail
over wrong, that one person can (and in his case) will make a
difference. His friends, his family and those who know him best gather
for one last meal together to give final words of advice, encouragement,
gifts of love and to unite in a final prayer before he departs. Yes, he
has been preparing for this day for as long as he could remember. He
wonders, "How did it arrive so fast? Am I as ready as I need to be?"
Regardless of the answers, he has accepted the call. He will assume the
responsibility that has been placed on his head. He has been set apart,
dedicated his young life for this very day, this hour, this moment in
time. He is ready, he is willing. He will give all he 'has to give'
alongside the many others who have gone before him and who will yet
follow after him.
He begins to arm himself, by kneeling in prayer. When he arises he
feels the armor surrounding him like a warm blanket of comfort. After
dressing he takes the symbol of whom he is now and whom he represents
and pins it proudly on his freshly pressed white shirt. It is but a
small black and white badge but it is the very symbol of righteous,
proclaiming for all to see whom he is and what he stands for. Next the
young warrior takes his instructions, his guide, and tucks it reverently
in his pack. When in doubt he knows to open the pages and there he will
find the answers to what he needs. Fully armed he walks out, a little
timid at first, but then lengthens his stride. Hugging his family
goodbye, he smiles and waves. He is sad but for a moment as he leaves
his family behind. Soon, his heart is filled with peace and a calmness
of mind. He is ready; he will battle with all of his might, mind and
strength as he has been taught. He has received a witness that this is
where he needs to be, this is his time, and he is in the right place.
Two years later, this same young warrior prepares for his day ahead.
For two years, he has battled with all of his might. He has been a true
warrior standing for truth and right. He has blessed those in need, he
has taught the powers of good, he has lead those seeking the truth, and
helped those who have fallen and lost their way. Each day for two
years, he has battled without rest, without thoughts of home, without
thoughts of himself. His eye was set on the final victory, the prize
for those who endured to the end. He has been a valiant warrior and
given all he has day after day, hour after hour, minute by minute. His
badge is now worn, tattered and old. His battle plans show scars of
battles; the pages folded, tattered, and worn from hours of study and
preparation. His knees now calloused from hours bent in prayer; not for
him but for those he has served with, learned from and for those he has
yet to find. He has given all he has, there is now nothing left to
give. His time as a young warrior is fast coming to an end. He feels
the pressure of time weighing down upon him day by day.
An older, wiser warrior now prepares for his day. He knew this day
would come from the very first steps he took into this new land. He at
first thought this battle would be hard; he questioned himself and his
inner strength. Now looking back, he wonders, "How did it all go so
fast? Have I done all that I came to do? Have I helped fight the
adversary with all of my might mind and strength? Is there anyone still
lost that I need to find? Have I done my best?" He lifts his head to
look in the mirror. "Yes", he whispers "I have battled well, I can be
proud of who I am and what I have done." Slowly he walks out and with a
humble heart, and kneels in prayer one last time as a warrior. With
courage he stands, places his badge once again over his heart, packs his
belongings and prepares to say his final goodbyes to those he has served
and grown to love so much. This foreign soil has become his home and he
is sad to leave. These people he now calls family, where once they were
strangers. Opening his battle plans one last time, he seeks for
answers, for peace, and for strength to face the day ahead.
His head and shoulders erect, he takes his first steps back on his home
soil. When he first left it, now seems so long ago, a lifetime ago in
his mind. He feels like a stranger here now. Timidly he gathers his
pack, lifts himself to his full size and proudly walks forward to meet
his family and friends who he knows are waiting to welcome this battle
worn warrior back home. "It went all too fast." he whispers to himself.
"I am but a stranger here". One last thought races through his mind,
"This morning I left my home, to come home". His love of those he
served beside, those he taught and those he grew to love now linger in
his heart and forever there, they will stay.
A warrior valiant and strong, mighty in his conviction, unrelenting in
his beliefs of good versus evil, knowing that right has indeed
prevailed; returned home this day. As he walks towards those waiting to
see his face, he passes another young warrior taking his first timed
steps away from home, preparing to go into battle. The older warrior
tilts his head and smiles; the new warrior stands a little taller as
they pass. They know this is their time, their battle; they were saved
for these latter days. The mantle of responsibility is passed onto
another warrior; who like him had been preparing for this day from the
time he took his very first steps. Yes, the battle rages on, but for
this returning warrior his battle will be at home now. He will
continue to serve with honor. He will use what he has learned these
past two years to raise up other young warriors to serve in the years
that lie ahead.
Yes, a warrior has returned with honor to those he left behind, knowing
he is the one who gained so much. He will never be able to repay the
debt, his service was but for a moment in time, but who he is now strong
and sure, dedicated and determined to follow the right, will stay with
him for a lifetime. He lifts his head once again, and looks forward
with a smile to those he can see in the distance waiting with open arms
to welcome him home.
Dedicated to LDS RM's worldwide!
Debbie Blair
Missionary mom.
a little boy that he was a hero, saved for these final days of battle.
He was taught that the enemy was real and would try day after day to
stop him from learning and growing into what he has now become. He is a
warrior, valiant, strong, mighty in his conviction, and unrelenting in
his beliefs of good versus evil. He understands that right will prevail
over wrong, that one person can (and in his case) will make a
difference. His friends, his family and those who know him best gather
for one last meal together to give final words of advice, encouragement,
gifts of love and to unite in a final prayer before he departs. Yes, he
has been preparing for this day for as long as he could remember. He
wonders, "How did it arrive so fast? Am I as ready as I need to be?"
Regardless of the answers, he has accepted the call. He will assume the
responsibility that has been placed on his head. He has been set apart,
dedicated his young life for this very day, this hour, this moment in
time. He is ready, he is willing. He will give all he 'has to give'
alongside the many others who have gone before him and who will yet
follow after him.
He begins to arm himself, by kneeling in prayer. When he arises he
feels the armor surrounding him like a warm blanket of comfort. After
dressing he takes the symbol of whom he is now and whom he represents
and pins it proudly on his freshly pressed white shirt. It is but a
small black and white badge but it is the very symbol of righteous,
proclaiming for all to see whom he is and what he stands for. Next the
young warrior takes his instructions, his guide, and tucks it reverently
in his pack. When in doubt he knows to open the pages and there he will
find the answers to what he needs. Fully armed he walks out, a little
timid at first, but then lengthens his stride. Hugging his family
goodbye, he smiles and waves. He is sad but for a moment as he leaves
his family behind. Soon, his heart is filled with peace and a calmness
of mind. He is ready; he will battle with all of his might, mind and
strength as he has been taught. He has received a witness that this is
where he needs to be, this is his time, and he is in the right place.
Two years later, this same young warrior prepares for his day ahead.
For two years, he has battled with all of his might. He has been a true
warrior standing for truth and right. He has blessed those in need, he
has taught the powers of good, he has lead those seeking the truth, and
helped those who have fallen and lost their way. Each day for two
years, he has battled without rest, without thoughts of home, without
thoughts of himself. His eye was set on the final victory, the prize
for those who endured to the end. He has been a valiant warrior and
given all he has day after day, hour after hour, minute by minute. His
badge is now worn, tattered and old. His battle plans show scars of
battles; the pages folded, tattered, and worn from hours of study and
preparation. His knees now calloused from hours bent in prayer; not for
him but for those he has served with, learned from and for those he has
yet to find. He has given all he has, there is now nothing left to
give. His time as a young warrior is fast coming to an end. He feels
the pressure of time weighing down upon him day by day.
An older, wiser warrior now prepares for his day. He knew this day
would come from the very first steps he took into this new land. He at
first thought this battle would be hard; he questioned himself and his
inner strength. Now looking back, he wonders, "How did it all go so
fast? Have I done all that I came to do? Have I helped fight the
adversary with all of my might mind and strength? Is there anyone still
lost that I need to find? Have I done my best?" He lifts his head to
look in the mirror. "Yes", he whispers "I have battled well, I can be
proud of who I am and what I have done." Slowly he walks out and with a
humble heart, and kneels in prayer one last time as a warrior. With
courage he stands, places his badge once again over his heart, packs his
belongings and prepares to say his final goodbyes to those he has served
and grown to love so much. This foreign soil has become his home and he
is sad to leave. These people he now calls family, where once they were
strangers. Opening his battle plans one last time, he seeks for
answers, for peace, and for strength to face the day ahead.
His head and shoulders erect, he takes his first steps back on his home
soil. When he first left it, now seems so long ago, a lifetime ago in
his mind. He feels like a stranger here now. Timidly he gathers his
pack, lifts himself to his full size and proudly walks forward to meet
his family and friends who he knows are waiting to welcome this battle
worn warrior back home. "It went all too fast." he whispers to himself.
"I am but a stranger here". One last thought races through his mind,
"This morning I left my home, to come home". His love of those he
served beside, those he taught and those he grew to love now linger in
his heart and forever there, they will stay.
A warrior valiant and strong, mighty in his conviction, unrelenting in
his beliefs of good versus evil, knowing that right has indeed
prevailed; returned home this day. As he walks towards those waiting to
see his face, he passes another young warrior taking his first timed
steps away from home, preparing to go into battle. The older warrior
tilts his head and smiles; the new warrior stands a little taller as
they pass. They know this is their time, their battle; they were saved
for these latter days. The mantle of responsibility is passed onto
another warrior; who like him had been preparing for this day from the
time he took his very first steps. Yes, the battle rages on, but for
this returning warrior his battle will be at home now. He will
continue to serve with honor. He will use what he has learned these
past two years to raise up other young warriors to serve in the years
that lie ahead.
Yes, a warrior has returned with honor to those he left behind, knowing
he is the one who gained so much. He will never be able to repay the
debt, his service was but for a moment in time, but who he is now strong
and sure, dedicated and determined to follow the right, will stay with
him for a lifetime. He lifts his head once again, and looks forward
with a smile to those he can see in the distance waiting with open arms
to welcome him home.
Dedicated to LDS RM's worldwide!
Debbie Blair
Missionary mom.
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