I grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and like most teenagers, I loved listening to music. Jim Croce was one of my favorites, and I especially liked his hit song, “Don’t Mess Around with Jim.”
The idea of tugging on Superman’s cape or unmasking the Lone Ranger tickled my funny bone.
I hadn’t thought about that song in years, but while our son was in the Marine Corps, I heard it again. As I listened to the lyrics, it struck me that there were some valuable life lessons in that old melody.
My Marine Corps son was a lot like Superman. He had a job to do—a big one—and he really didn’t need distractions. He needed a family who would support him—and not hide things from him—but also not distract him with trivia.
Sometimes it’s a thin line to walk, but it’s worth the effort. Whether we have a loved one in the service, or just know a military family in our community, we can help minimize distractions. We can support our military men and women by supporting their families.
We all worry about our troops, but they equally worry about their families back home. When they know their families have a solid support system, it makes doing their jobs easier.
