This Sunday is Mother’s Day! As I thought about what to write that would be appropriate, I decided to see what AI might say.  So, here is a quote from “cyberspace” or the inner workings of my computer.  I clearly don’t know how this technology works. 

“On this Mother's Day, let us pause to reflect on the profound impact mothers have on our lives. From the quiet moments of nurturing and support to the grand gestures of love and guidance, mothers shape our world in ways we may not always fully appreciate. This day is a chance to express our gratitude to those mothers who have nurtured us, loved us, and provided a foundation upon which we have built our lives. Whether they are our birth mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, or those who have simply been a source of inspiration and love, let us honor their sacrifices and celebrate their enduring presence in our lives. 

"This Mother's Day, let us not just celebrate the love mothers give, but also the strength, resilience, and unwavering dedication they display every day.” 

Wow! I couldn’t have written it better! Now on from just me ... As someone who enlisted in 1961, I think about how my mother must have felt. In 1961, American-backed Cuban exiles conducted a failed invasion of Cuba, no doubt leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, bringing us to the brink of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union.  In 1961, the Soviet Union detonated a 50-megaton hydrogen bomb, the largest hydrogen bomb in history. The Berlin Wall was built to separate East Germany (the German Democratic Republic, a socialist state under Soviet influence) and West Germany (the Federal Republic of Germany, a capitalist democracy). The Cold War with the Soviets was heating up. And in 1961, the U.S. significantly increased its military presence in South Vietnam by deploying more military advisors and troops, primarily to assist the South Vietnamese government in combating the growing Viet Cong insurgency, and the Soviet backed North Vietnamese. This shift marked a notable escalation of American involvement in the Vietnam War. 

So, what did my mom feel about her 18-year-old baby signing up to join the military? My guess is that my momwasn’t thinking it was my patriotic duty, or that it would provide for a college education at some point. I bet she was scared to death ... Why her son? But did she ever express any of that to me? No! She said how proud she was of me, gave me big hugs, and sent me off. The tears happened as soon as I was out of sight. I was one of the fortunate ones who came home fine after three tours in Vietnam, but mom had to endure the daily news about those not so fortunate. All veterans today signed up with a world in conflict somewhere, so thank our moms on Sunday, either in person or by prayer.