How would you like to live in ten different houses in ten years?  Well, that’s been my experience as military child.  I feel like it is easy to have courage to do one big thing like riding in a rodeo or tightrope walking, but having courage to do a number of seemingly small things over and over is what has shaped me into a courageous military child.

When it comes to having courage as a military child, I usually think of moving.  It’s never an enjoyable process because it is extremely tiresome and irritating for all of us.  The first step in moving is packing.  Whether you’re packing yourselves or hiring someone it takes a while, especially when there are twelve people in your family.  The next stage is moving all the boxes and furniture.  Even when you move it all yourself things are easily broken.  I will never forget the scent of cigarette-smelling cardboard, the sound of packing tape, and having to navigate through all of the boxes.

I find it challenging to have to say good bye to friends when my dad receives orders for us to move again because it takes a long time and a great deal of effort to make lasting friendships.  When we move, we usually travel pretty far away, so I sometimes doubt I will ever see that person again.  If I knew the future it would be much easier.  To overcome this challenge, I courageously I gain new pen pals and Facetime friends everywhere I go.  It also takes courage to make friends with other military kids knowing they will move too.

After getting to our new destination, we have to find a new church.  Every time we visit a church I feel out of place, but after going a second and third time I begin to make friends and gain courage. This new-found courage helps me reach out to the next new kid because I was once in their shoes.  Sometimes I try to find a way to volunteer and help out so that I truly become part of the team.

Another important part of having courage is walking up to the new neighbors next door or across the street.  One small deed that my family likes to do is make homemade bread for them.  What’s a better way to make friends than to give them food?  We have found that this outreach builds community, and we end up having dinner together or block parties.

My courage is also tested when my dad walks out the door each day or when he leaves for the long-term.  He does some crazy things like jumping out of aircraft and traveling to hostile combat zones. But it pays off because sometimes I get to do special things such as pinning my dad at his promotion and participating in fun Army events.

Although it is difficult sometimes, all of these challenges have helped me to be courageous.  And for that I am very grateful to be a military child.