A LETTER BY A CIVILIAN WIFE TO A MARINE WIFE

While I have never had the pleasure of meeting you and your husband, I felt the need to write you and express a very deep feeling that I have in my heart.
I as a person am not brave. I do not tackle things head on, as I hate confrontation. I will travel 100 miles out of my way just to avoid a conflict. I am a civilian woman that has no idea what is going on in the Merchant Fleet other than what I hear in the news, rarely. I never had to let go of someone so that they could go and fight gigantic waves of mighty sea. People sometime do not appreciate your husband’s work, but I do.
I have never had a sleepless night of worry because of a report that the sea is getting very rough or that another typhoon is approaching the way and I still haven't heard from my husband. I have never had to wait for months on end to hold the one that I loved so.
I have never had to tell my children that daddy wasn't coming home tonight because he was so far away helping the global trade, something that they aren't yet old enough to understand. I have never had to hold my head up high and suppress the tears as I hear that it will be at least another six months of separation before my love comes home.
I have never had to deal with a holiday away from the one that I thought I would share every day of my life with.
For the reasons listed above, I cannot tell you that I understand how you feel. I cannot tell you that you must be strong. I cannot say that you shouldn't be angry, because you “knew what you were getting into when you married a Merchant Navy Officer."" I cannot say these things because I have never had to walk in your shoes.
What can I say for certain is that because of your acts of sacrifice and your husband’s willingness to stand up for those who see him as “just another person""---- I will never have to walk in your shoes.
People call Merchant officers as one who lust for DOLLARS. But this is the hard earned money for his family and their comforts. People do not understand the work your husband does for livelihood, but whatever he does, he do it for his family. 

I do understand that being a marine wife you are expected to uphold a certain amount of control, but I never understood how you could do it, until now. I have figured out that you are not like other woman. You are of a special breed. You have a strength within you that holds life together in the darkest of hours, a strength of which I will never possess. The faith you have is what makes you stand out in a crowd; it makes you glow with emotion and swell with pride at the mention of your love.
You are a special lady and a wonderful partner. Until this moment, I had no real reason to praise your efforts. He does not get much needed recognition, but I appreciate every marine. I do understand now, how they silently serve and never demand any laurels from country.
I realize that you are a stronger person than I will ever be because of these things and I just wanted to take the time today to say thank you to you and your family for those sacrifices.
I will never be able to repay this debt to you, as it is unmatchable. However, I hope that you know that no matter where you are, what you doing, what has happened today, or what will happen tomorrow; your husband will NEVER be “just another person"" to me… And you, my dear sweet lady, will never be forgotten.
You are all in my prayers everyday and I pray that God will bring you back together with your loved one safely....