There are other things I have learned from this book, but the one most prominent to me is- my boys might be soldiers when they grow up. One of Rilla’s brothers enlists towards the beginning, and it is a recurring theme, that his family lives in a daily stress of not knowing what the day will bring- a phone call being notified of his death? The family studies the battles, and the political figures involved, they all do their part at home to support the war- Rilla cares for her war baby, and many people do Red Cross work.

As I was listening to this (on CD) I realized the odds of my children fighting are very high. We had listened to a man speak in sacrament meeting, and he said every man in his father’s line had fought in war, they had fought in each war.

I DO NOT want my boys to be in war. I don’t mind most of them being soldiers (there is one who is docile and sweet, and it would be excrutiating if he ever had to be a soldier. I do not trust them to be kind to someone who is slow! ) but I haven’t been able to bear the thought of them actually FIGHTING an enemy. But looking back on history, this is just a reality. We have to fight to stay free. As Rilla said, we are paying a debt that we owe to the future children, what we owe to those that have gone before. We are paying for what we have already been enjoying- freedom.

When it dawned on me that the odds are VERY high that they will be soldiers, just based on history, I was panicked. They don’t know anything about strategy, or weapons. What is that war game Rachel’s kids play?!

But I realized that the most important things I need to teach them are the same- faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, knowledge that they are a child of God, trust in God to guide them, purity of character. But I feel I appreciate more the need to teach them, and to hold them close, because of this book.

I think knowledge of war is important also, and I feel that is part of why we have come here- my dad has already had pinecone wars with them. Someday we will all get to play paintball. I bet the boys would enjoy hearing the stories of battles, stories that I don’t even know. Well, I do know one’s from the Book of Mormon! We enjoy battleship, also. But now I have something on my curricula that was there before, but now I am more aware of it.

So that is the lesson I have learned- prepare these boys for an incredible future. Hold them close today as if they will be gone tomorrow, they are growing up and away in anycase!

-Jocie