I have worked at Van Scoy Jewelers for several years now, and every day brings a new learning experience through the customers who walk through our doors. Each person has a different personality, a different story, and every day is a little different.
Most days are just the usual routine—sales, blogs, inventory, and helping a few customers. But the other day was different. It was one of those moments that caught me off guard and stayed with me long after the day was over.
A young customer came in to have an ID bracelet engraved. On the surface, it seemed like a normal request. But he was so young, handsome, and noticeably nervous. He told me he was being deployed to Kuwait, and before deployment, his bracelet had to be engraved with his name and his ID number.
When he handed me that number, it suddenly hit me. God forbid anything were to happen to him, that number would be part of how he would be identified. In that instant, I felt a wave of sadness and a completely different appreciation for what our military men and women sacrifice.
It was one of those moments that simply smacked me in the face. Here was this young man, preparing to leave behind his family, his friends, and the comfort of home to serve something bigger than himself. All I could think about was his mother. As a mom, I worry about my own children every day, but my worries suddenly felt so small compared to what she must be carrying in her heart.
I can only imagine the emotions that come rushing through a parent's mind when their child is deployed—the pride, the fear, the uncertainty, and the constant hope that they will return home safely. It gave me a renewed respect for not only those who serve, but also for the families who serve right alongside them in a different way.
Something as simple as engraving a bracelet became a powerful reminder that every name, every number, and every person has a story. Sometimes, in the middle of an ordinary workday, we are reminded just how extraordinary the people standing in front of us really are.
I hope that young man knows that a stranger is praying for his safety. May God watch over him, protect him, and bring him home safely to the people who love him.
Most days are just the usual routine—sales, blogs, inventory, and helping a few customers. But the other day was different. It was one of those moments that caught me off guard and stayed with me long after the day was over.
A young customer came in to have an ID bracelet engraved. On the surface, it seemed like a normal request. But he was so young, handsome, and noticeably nervous. He told me he was being deployed to Kuwait, and before deployment, his bracelet had to be engraved with his name and his ID number.
When he handed me that number, it suddenly hit me. God forbid anything were to happen to him, that number would be part of how he would be identified. In that instant, I felt a wave of sadness and a completely different appreciation for what our military men and women sacrifice.
It was one of those moments that simply smacked me in the face. Here was this young man, preparing to leave behind his family, his friends, and the comfort of home to serve something bigger than himself. All I could think about was his mother. As a mom, I worry about my own children every day, but my worries suddenly felt so small compared to what she must be carrying in her heart.
I can only imagine the emotions that come rushing through a parent's mind when their child is deployed—the pride, the fear, the uncertainty, and the constant hope that they will return home safely. It gave me a renewed respect for not only those who serve, but also for the families who serve right alongside them in a different way.
Something as simple as engraving a bracelet became a powerful reminder that every name, every number, and every person has a story. Sometimes, in the middle of an ordinary workday, we are reminded just how extraordinary the people standing in front of us really are.
I hope that young man knows that a stranger is praying for his safety. May God watch over him, protect him, and bring him home safely to the people who love him.