Sometimes I wonder if it's all worth it

I get discouraged by the way the world, especially America, is going.  No matter how much I want it to go better, it just seems to get worse.  Cyprus stealing money right out of their citizens bank accounts, British banks demanding a written reason as to why their customers are taking money from their accounts, Russian banks declaring a no-withdrawal time period so their customers can't have access to their own money.  Then we have maobama declaring himself emperor of the United States and no one challenges him on it.  I could go on and on about how messed up the situation is, but you are as aware of it as I am.  But I sometimes feel like I'm swimming against the current in a river of molasses.  And the harder I stroke, the behinder I get.  It's almost like I'm on this crusade by myself, that I'm the only one who sees and acts against what's going on.  I know I'm not, but it feels like I am and that's when I get discouraged and consider just giving up and let what's happening, happen.  Yes, this is my version of a pity-party for me.

But, no matter how discouraged I get or how often, I never give up entirely.  When that thought enters my head, I have to take a minute and look at the pictures of my wife, children and, mostly, my grandchildren.  I have to remind myself that I'm not doing this for myself, but for them.  That I owe them the life that I promised when I got married, had kids and then grandkids.  Everything I do today is for them and not for me.  I want them to have a life of freedom, freedom from wants and worries as much as I can.  But also freedom to live their lives as they will and to then pass that freedom on to their children and loved ones.  Freedom to not have to do as some overly paid jerk in DC or Springfield tells them, to decide for themselves what, where and how they want to live and work.  Freedom to choose who they want representing them at all levels of government, or to choose to represent themselves in one of those offices.  Freedom to educate themselves and their children in the manner they choose.  Freedom to worship the God of their choice, without having to submit to others opinions and ridicule.  Freedom to hold an opinion for themselves and not be bullied or browbeat by other people who do not agree with them.  Freedom to argue for their opinions and rights and not be classified as a terrorist because of those beliefs.  Freedom to be cantankerous if they so desire.  Freedom to just be left alone. 

So, no matter how down in the dumps I sometimes get, I can't quit.  I have to continue to look out for and be prepared to defend those listed freedoms, as well as those that are not listed but known to all.  So I stand watch on my tower and am prepared to sound the alarm when necessary.  For that's another form of freedom and, as we all know, freedom isn't free.  Someone, sometimes, somewhere has to pay for it.