Appreciation

So, this week is Police Officer Appreciation Week.  And yes, it's a legitimate week - just like Teacher Appreciation Week and Nurse Appreciation Week.  Although, I doubt very seriously there is as big a celebration and appreciation for our police officers as there is for our teachers.  Likely because no one likes to be told when they are doing the wrong thing.  But, I still think it's a legitimate thing for us to appreciate those men and women who do the day to day job of being a police officer.  I know we certainly appreciate the police officers in our home town, the places we drive around in and especially in our house.  And although I may not say it often enough, I am very grateful for police officers.  The fact that any one of them would go to bat and get beat up, shot at or any number of other infractions for me or my family does not go unnoticed.  Granted, we have a more constant reminder than most families, but even before then, I never under estimated the worth of a police force and the value they bring to my life.  We pray for their safety every day. We pray for their families and the strain the job puts on the normal every day life.  I am not naive enough to believe that most people in the world do not appreciate police officers.  On a day to day basis, I am certain they are the butt of more jokes and insults than most people in the world.  But the thing is, they all know that.  And they all still put that uniform on and walk out in the world to protect the very people who belittle them.  A while back, Roger sent me this poem and I think it puts things in perspective so I want to share it. I have no idea who wrote this, but it was not me.

A cop on the take

First he takes...the oath

Now look at what else he takes...
He takes...it in stride when people call him a pig,
He takes...your verbal abuse while giving you a ticket you really deserve,
He takes...on creeps you would be afraid to even look at,
He takes...time away from his family to make you safe,
He takes...your injured child to the hospital,
He takes...the late shift without complaint because it's his turn,
He takes...his life into his hands daily,
He takes...you home when your car breaks down,
He takes...time to explain why both your headlights have to work,
He takes...the job no one else wants---telling you a loved one has died,
He takes...criminals to jail,
He takes...in sights that would make you cry. Sometimes he cries too, but he takes it anyway because someone has to.
He takes...memories to bed each night that you couldn't bear for even one day,
He takes...time to explain to his family why he can't make the ball game his child is in and why he has to work on the holiday when other parents are off,
Sometimes....he takes a bullet,
And yes, occasionally...he takes a free cup of coffee,
If he is lucky...he takes retirement,
Then one day, he pays for all he has taken...and God takes him.

To the men and women who take all these things and more every day, I humbly thank you.  Each of you hold a special place in our family and in our hearts.  To the one that I love more than anything in the world and to the people who "have his back":  I can never thank you enough.  One week of appreciation is hardly sufficient.