Saluting the Silent Frontliners

A message for leaders' children....

You may not have known you were a "frontliner" or aware you were on the battlefield but you felt all the ugly and tormenting effects of war.

Sometimes around the dinner table, you sensed things were not quite right. The atmosphere that hung over the conversations dripped our failed attempts to hide the tension and weariness. You wanted to fix it or ease the conflict you saw in your parent's eyes. Fragments of explosions from the field ended up on your plates; shrapnel that cut and wounded with the countless fallouts.

I am sorry you were injured too!

You heard the explosions. You dreamed about gunfire attacks and felt the bombs impact the ground. You firsthand witnessed the mess and confusion they all produced. You may not have known the details but you watched the tears and felt powerless and helpless to stop their trails on the ones you looked up to and loved. You wanted to help. You wanted to make it better. You were crying too!

Your hugs meant everything!

There were calculated and strategic direct aims to take you out and destroy us all. You were recipients of others’ bitterness, jealousy, anger, criticism, unfair comments, and judgements. Your lives were under the microscope; enlarged by a sinister spotlight so that the areas you were trying hard to learn and grow in were magnified before an audience of unkind gossip and sniper bullets. You were unjustly graded for every regular childlike or teen move you made. Watched and scrutinised with sharp focus critique.

Instead of grace, encouragement, support, or prayers, you were frequently marked blunt targets that took the brunt of others' failures and weaknesses.

We are so sorry!

You did not ask to be in the fight, to wear armour at such a young age or learn the strategies of enemies that are supposed to be allies. You have seen and heard more than was ever intended and endured more than many will ever know. The territory we occupy has been deeply costly and impacting for you.

Our guarding did not always protect you from betrayals or shelter you from hardcore weapons. You have learned resilience and forgiveness in the hardest ways. The words, the attacks, and the question arrows shot or misfired became combat training that you didn't enroll in.

This is a subtle tactic of abuse against leaders, their families and those they have dared to trust as friends. We are sorry you are dragged in and through the dirt.

You sacrificed more than anyone asked of you! There are no words...but you are seen, loved and highly treasured.

What was intended to devastate and assasinate has unknowingly only caused you to grow with greater tenderness, mercy, and a measure of wisdom far beyond your years.

Thank you for still loving the broken. Thank you for making space for the clean-up processes. Thank you for your enlarged hearts to love and keep on loving. Thank you for not only being with us on the frontline but continuing to stand beside us. This was never our intention or request but you have still moved into position and held your ground.

You are the great warriors!

You are our coworkers and co-heirs in this journey of restoring lives. We are immensely proud of all that you are.

We salute and honour you. You are the legacy arising!