police lives matter.

I was the wife of a police officer for almost three years. The first year he worked "midnights" and I don't think I slept that entire year. I remember curling up in bed with our new baby, our first baby, and praying that the hours would pass by quickly and that he would make it home safe. I would call him all hours of the night to check on him, and sometimes I would wake up in a cold sweat and have to dial his number. I would say to him, "be safe," and "you better come home to us," and even "DO NOT forget to put your bullet proof vest on. I don't care if it's hot and uncomfortable. You have a wife and a baby, and we need you!"
I remember times would he would come home from his shift and not want to talk. He saw things that people shouldn't have to see. Every once and a while he would tell me bits and pieces of heartbreaking stories about children or situations that he handled. I knew he was only telling me the easy parts and that there were deeper, more painful layers to the stories. Sometimes he would go straight to sleep after work and seem "down" for days. He'd tell me not to go to certain places or certain parts of town because of things he knew, but didn't have the heart to tell me about.
He was a great officer. And he loved it. He loved the excitement. He loved the camaraderie. But most of all, he loved helping people. I really found this out when I did my first ride-along. He would pull up on an altercation, and by the time Jeb left, everyone would be laughing and telling jokes with each other. He would arrest people and by the time he got them to jail, they would be calling him their friend. He has a way with people and making them happy. I've never met anyone who didn't like Jeb.
I know that some people abuse their authority, and I know that there are "bad apples," but most police officers are good people who are doing their best to help others. They react according to protocol and their training in last-minute, life-threatening, high-adrenaline situations. They try to use their best judgment, and they try to keep others as safe as possible AND make it home to their families. And it's not an easy job.
I thank Jesus for Jeb's time as an officer. It made him a better father and a better man. Support law enforcement…because police lives matter. ‪#‎lawenforcementappreciationday‬

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