This is a story about love and sacrifice. Picture a woman who loves her child very much and has sacrificed, to give him the best that she can. As he grows to adulthood, he is conscripted into the military and has Mother must deal with him serving in the war. This is her story.

The Dreams That Will Never Come True:

Hear my love song to you, as I hold you in my arms, in the night
I kiss you, with much love, on your cheek, time to say goodnight
I look down at you with the eyes of a Mother, holding her son
Let me cradle you in my arms, sleep now, for my song is sung

Rest in my arms, my beautiful son
As you sleep on your Mothers breast
Know that I will always love you, my little one
Sleep, my baby...have your rest

You, my beautiful son are the most important person in my life
I loved you, the moment I conceived you, as your Father's wife
And for nine long months, You lived within me, both day and night
And I have done all that I can, to give to you, a good, honest life

I share with you, the Joy and the tears, that come from this life
Hoping that your life will turn out better than mine, of toil and strife
To grow up strong and find yourself a good woman, to be your wife
And to your live with her for eternity, grandchildren would be a delight

As the years go by, and you grow, I see that you are taller than me
You work hard in the fields, if only an education was meant for thee?
I am proud of you son, please know that for me, it's hard to understand
That the child who would fall asleep in my arms, has now become a man

You are a very good son to me, and you honor both your Father and I
Seeing you grow up my son, so quickly, often makes me want to cry
For I live in you and you live inside of me, that is the way life is to be
But now I get a notification, that the military is taking you, away from me

The edict is said to be the true and sacred words of the Firelord himself
Calling that all young men of age must, do their duty, and go off to help
In the war that will bring peace and stability to our gentle people in time
To eliminate those liars of Air, Sea, and Earth, who hate us and despise

My young son, who I held in my arms, is called to the service of our Nation
I will not find under circumstances like this, any type of reason for celebration
Instead, I sit alone thinking of my sons welfare, in a deep state of frustration
My husband and I are there wave a tearful goodbye, to my son at the station

Every day and night I worry, and pray to the Spirits, that my Son, is alright
I light candles at the Temple, and try to make it there, whether it's day or night
And for the months, that he has been gone, each night just before I sleep
I sing my little song to him, with empty arms and my closed eyes, start to weep

Rest in my arms, my beautiful son
As you sleep on your Mothers breast
Know that I will always love you, my little one
Sleep my child...have your rest

In the morning, the sad news came and how this woman's young son, had died
Upon recieving the notification, she said nothing, she fell to her knees and cried
Having to be held by the Firenation courier, who give the woman this awful news
He tried his best to console her emotions, for what else was the messenger to do?

My heart has been torn out of my breast, the most important part of me has died
As look down upon the remains of my young child, I taste the bitter tears, that I cry
Why are the Spirits so cruel? I would have given my life for his, if only they asked
But now a parent must bury their child, I prayed I never would have to do this task

The coins were layed on the deceased soldiers eyes, for his journey to the Spirit World
And as his body was creamated, the sounds of a Mothers hysteria could still be heard
After the ceremony was over, and the embers were cooled, the Mother went to fire
Her hands digging into the ashes, trying to find the remains of her son, in the funeral pyre

Her family came to take the Mother home, her only son was dead, and she was still alive
Time has passed, and so has her husband, as the lonely Widow sits alone now and cries
She is taken care of by relatives, her will and mind are gone, she is at the end, of her life
It is said in the village where the old Widow lives, that they can still hear, her sad lullaby

Rest in my arms, my beautiful son
As you sleep on your Mother's breast
Know that I will always love you my little one
Sleep my baby...have your rest

The relatives, found her one Morning, motionless as the eternal quiet that comes before dawn
Her life on this earth has ended, and her valuables are collected and sold, life still has to go on
Clutched in her lifeless arms, held with such tenderness, her surviving relatives, did come to find
The childrens clothing that once belonged to her young son, as the Morning Sun began to shine

This Fouth of July, take a moment and think about the Families who have laid their children on the alter of freedom. We must not forget their sacrifice.