Sadness

Facebook post yesterday:

This morning I have been sewing black bands to go around my officer's badges here at work. This is something that I am doing with great sadness. Please remember the officers and families from Ogden in your prayers today. What a great love and respect I have for all of them.

Working for a police department for the past 5 years and being part of the law enforcement family the incident in Ogden hits hard for me.  I appreciate my officers and the hard work they do. I read the following poem on my friend that is a local city officer's facebook page today.  

Final Inspection

The officer stood and faced his God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shinning,

... Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, Officer,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"

The officer squared his shoulder and said,
"No, lord I guess I ain’t,
Because those of us who carry badges
can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was rough,
And sometimes I've been violent
Because the streets are tough.

But I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep..
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
when the bills got to steep.

And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept an unmanly tear.

I know I don't deserve a place
among the people here.
They never wanted me around
except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
it needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't...I'll understand.

There was silence all around the throne,
where the saints often trod.
As the officer waited quietly
for the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, Officer.
You've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell"