This morning, I followed my normal pre-work routine.  My alarm rang at 6:45.  I climbed out of bed to turn it off.  I climbed back into bed until the snooze alarm sounded.  I turned that off too, and climbed into bed again.  Finally, after thirty minutes of this game, I was ready to truly get up and face the world.  (Why I can’t just set my alarm thirty minutes later and sleep I’ll never know.)

Next, I journeyed to the bathroom for the morning ritual:  shower, shave, brush my hair (even though I buzz my hair), brush my teeth.  I got dressed, headed to the kitchen and poured myself a bowl of cereal.  I then embarked on a ritual I’ve had in some form or fashion since I was eight - I saw down and read the paper.  

When I was eight, I would literally spend 20 minutes combing through the local paper - skimming articles, checking out the day’s news, reading the funnies.  Nowadays, I migrate back to my computer and skim through the news stories on the website of the local paper.  If I have time, I’ll pop over to a few favorite sites or blogs that are on my newsfeed.  

This morning, however, I was stopped in my tracks when I came across this photo.  

Suddenly, the mundane nature of my morning ritual evaporated.    Tears instantly welled up in my eyes as I studied the scene - a heroic father, dead.  His baby girl, reaching out to him one last time - probably wondering when daddy would wake up.  And mom, holding her steady remaining strong in her grief.

It’s difficult for me to wrap my head around the wars occurring thousands of miles away.  It’s difficult to connect the blessing of my mundane morning with the men and women fighting oversees.  And it’s difficult to remain okay with mundane when people are dying for my freedom.  

Thank you, SSG John Melton, for your sacrifice.  You are truly a hero.  And may God watch over your family as they journey on without you.   

For more amazing photos depicting the conflict in Afghanistan, click here.