Keeping the Peace!

How do you feel about Police Officers?

Not too crazy about them? Grudging respect? Indifferent? Suspicious?

Are they people who get behind you on the freeway and make you late for work?

Or are they maybe the people who pass you on the freeway

and that makes you angry?

Or maybe you are one of those seeming few who know police are just people too.

Many good, some bad.

Maybe you consider that the Profession is an honorable one.

It's up to the person wearing the badge on any given day how that turns out.

I remember where I was sitting talking to my (then) boyfriend on the phone,

when he told me he might like to become a State Trooper.

Can you imgaine instant horror?

I came from a decent church going, praying at the kitchen table family,

but even in "nice" families, many times you hear bad reports or even worse,

experience a bad traffic stop or something of that nature.

In the re-telling of those stories in the kitchen, living room and dining room,

young minds are quick to form opinions.

Not to mention, that I was born in 1965. I graduated in 1983,

and it was a COMPLETELY different culture then.

Think movies like "Every Which Way but Loose", "Smokey and the Bandit".

Think drinking age 18.

Think parents of some kids would BUY the keg and allow us

to have the keg party at their house if we would behave "pretty" good!?

So, cops equaled people who "busted" our keg parties, and caught us skipping school.

Not cool, Ya'll!

That girl grew up and that boy grew up. They got married. Life happened.

He worked and worked hard. He did lots of things.

Through it all, he had many, many hobbies!

She got a job in the local sheriff's office.

In a clerical (what we call a support capacity,

she was "working for the man!").

Who would've thought that?

She was privileged to work under a brand new sherrif (beginning in '85),

and while she couldn't fully comprehend with her young,

immature mind the opportunity she had, the blessing she had,

she knew that it was a great group to be part of.

They worked to make law enforcement a Profession there. Not a job.

The sheriff at that time (and for a full 20 years) taught them to

"Do the Right Thing for The Right Reason".

Her husband finally admitted, he STILL wanted to be in law enforcement...

It was going to be a sacrifice, but it would be worth it

to do what he greatly desired.

He had dropped out of high school to go into the National Guard.

So now he could no longer procrastinate. He'd have to get his GED.

Done!

He'd have to have corrective surgery on an injury that happened when he was 18.

Done!

He had to change jobs to have a schedule that would permit him to get off in time for the evening law enforcment academy class.

Done!

(btw the job was digging trenches for pipe on the new courthouse being built, right across from the office she worked at. All day long in the hot Florida sun, while she worked in the air conditioning across the street. Somehow it just didn't feel right to know what his day was like, when hers was so good, so privileged. THEN he went to school all night, which began with running several miles!)

There were many obstacles to overcome beyond the academy.

But, we won't weigh this post down with anymore of them!

Destiny has a way of overwhelming circumstances, in order to bring what's meant to be to pass!

He DID succeed in achieving his positon in his calling to law enforcment!

I like to tell people "he found the hobby he can make a living at"!

That's just part of one officer's story, my husband, who of course I am quite partial to,

as you can imagine!

This post is a special request of his. He doesn't know

I have put all this stuff about him in here.

That wasn't what he wanted me to talk about.

I merely took the liberty of trying to personalize the facts he wanted me to write about.

We got a local law enforcement publication last week.

And he asked me to tell you all what it said. Because it was important to him.

He thinks it will matter to you. And he knows in this "Informations Age"

we can't always comprehend all that is thrown at us every day.

In the U.S. in 2007 there were 186 deaths in the line of duty

for law enforcement officers. That's about 1 every other day that doesn't come home, that doesn't make it to his or her children's baseball or soccer game.

That doesn't attend his parents anniversary party.

That doesn't make it to her wedding.

It's a sharp spike from the previous year.

With all the reports of bad law enforcement officers, it's good to remember,

many really do just want to "catch the bad guys & keep the peace".

They really do want to help people.

They really do see a lot of sad, seemingly hopeless situations.

All jobs have opportunities for honor and integrity.

Many have their dangers, and thankless tasks.

But, not too many computer programmers have a risk,

of not coming home after they go to work.

Not too many cars sales women have much chance of being shot at,

when they approach a vehicle and ask the driver to please step out of the car.

Sometimes the authority figure who makes us late for work, because we got stopped for forgetting to renew our tag, seems so stern, and when we actually get a ticket,

we now have the potential of higher insurance rates.

It's real hard to feel all warm and fuzzy about them then.

I know. I've been that person.

But, I enjoy to peek behind the sunglasses, and see the person.

Consider their humanity.

Incidentally, my husband has not been home on Easter Sunday in 14 years.

It's mandatory to work that day (here) because we have a huge Easter parade.

While that is not thrilling, we consider it a small price to pay

for him to do what he was made to do, what he loves to do.

I hope you will be inspired to join with me in praying that our law enforcment personnel

will seek the Lord for their wisdom, strength and protection. That they will choose righteousness and courage, kindness and mercy in all that they do.