I revert to childhood this time of year as I sit and watch holiday television shows that I remember so well. One of my favorites was always “Frosty the Snowman.” As I watch it today, I realize there are valuable lessons hidden in it for military moms and those who support them:
1) There are days when you wake up without a clue where you are or how you got there.
As parents, we spend our lives protecting our kids. Having them half a world away, fighting in a war zone, can leave you dazed and confused. That’s when those around us can help.
2) It’s important to ask for help.
Just as Frosty needed help recovering his magic hat, military parents need help coping while the child they love is in harm’s way. We can’t always find a magic hat to make things better, but friends who point us to God are exactly what we need.
3) Sometimes we need people to cut us some slack.
Just as Frosty got distracted and forgot to halt when the traffic cop hollered “stop,” we can miss the obvious. Having understanding people around to help is a huge gift.
4) The world has mean people in it.
Every story has a hero and villain. Unfortunately, that’s true in real life as well. We’ll run into people who—for whatever reason—are just plain mean. Our friends can rally around us during those encounters and help us stay focused on the good that’s in the world.
5) There is justice and a happy ending.
Sure, in “Frosty the Snowman,” it’s Santa who saves the day. But we also have an ultimate defender, Jesus Christ. We can rest in the fact that ultimately He will make all things right.
