Semper Fidelis: James 1:12

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Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
I wish I could have been more faithful to my journal here in the past week, but it's been a long week. Most notably, I got to see my son complete basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, thus earning the title United States Marine.

I have written about this subject several times over the past six months -- most notably here and here. Nonetheless, I wasn't prepared for what happened last Thursday, when I got to see my son for the first time in three months. It
was just three months, you know. It's not like he has been gone a year or so, like many Marines in the past, with their combat deployments to Afghanistan. It was just three months. Sometimes that feels like just a few days.

I am not ashamed to say it, I cried when I first saw him Thursday. Actually, I cried twice: first, when I caught my first glimpse of him from a distance, then as we hugged for the first time.  Mind you, they were all tears of joy, tears of pride, tears of, congratulations! I couldn't help myself. This old salty, softy of a Marine knew what this moment meant to my son. There he stood: My son is a United States Marine!

The number of people who challenged him on this idea is too many to count. They questioned his resolve and willpower. They thought he was too weak. They thought his heart was too soft. They didn't think he could finish the race. They thought he would quit.

I knew they were wrong.

He is a United States Marine.

Marines, we say, are always faithful. But not like God is, as James reminds us today. God has promised. And God never breaks his promise.

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