The "CALL"

This is my youngest, my "baby" Jason with his wonderful fiance. He is a full time student at the University of Toronto and graduates this spring. As he was growing up, his teachers labelled him the class "peacemaker" or class "mediator". Although very "popular", he has always been known to stick up for and intervene on behalf of the underdog. Some telling incidents of the man he would become include the time at camp (Jason was 13) when one boy in the cabin was being austricized by the others. Jason stepped forward and took the other boy under his wing and befriended him even after being told by his friends he would no longer be welcome to hang out with them if he did (these were "friends" he had year round). It's interesting that some of these same friends talk about the courage Jason had in taking the stand he did. Then there was the time in high school where Jason saw a younger, smaller boy being bullied in the cafeteria. Jason got up from his spot, walked over and intervened. The boy being bullied was not bothered again. He has become a man of great integrity and principle and we are very proud of him.

When he was 16, Jason began talking about joining the military reserves, but as his mother I was able to have some say as to if that should happen at that time. Whew.......I was able to keep him safe for a bit. When he was 20 however, it was a different story. As a mature, responsible young man who has always made wise decisions, Jason decided it was time to follow through with joining the reserves. His first round of training was last summer. He excelled, graduating 2nd in his class, and was given extra responsibilities in leadership. He was also greatly respected by the others for the moral and ethical stand he took. He has continued on with further training and courses on the weekends.

Since he joined the reserves, I have fretted and worried about the chances of him being called up to active duty in Afghanistan.......................Well that "CALL" came. Jason phoned me on Saturday to tell me his name is on a list of reservists to do further training starting next September and that he will be shipping out to Afghanistan for 6 months after that. I think that he was not surprised by my reaction on the one hand, yet was surprised on the other. I was not happy and I was and am frightened to death with what he was telling me, what mother wouldn't be! I did not however cry, or yell or try to find ways he could try to get out of it. He is a man now who is about to be married and move forward with his life. He is the one who needs to work through this with Alyson's support. As I stated, he is a man of great integrity and principle, and that is something I would never ask that he comprimise.

I am glad that Jason did not wait to tell me this news. It's going to take me alot of time to come to grips with it. I have always felt that if something were to ever happen to my husband Bruce, I would be devestated, but I would survive. My children on the other hand, I don't think I could survive if anything were to happen to one of the three of them. I will pray daily for wisdom and discernment for Jason as he begins this venture. I will pray daily that God give him patience and courage to deal with all he will be confronted with. I will pray daily for he and Alyson as they begin their marriage amidst some trying circumstances. I will continually thank God for the kind of man he has become. I will pray ongoing that God will keep him safe.