Walking the Line

Have you ever heard a song that just sticks for some reason? One you didn’t think much about until someone drew your attention to it. That’s what happened the other day when the song “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash was mentioned as containing many parallels to military life. When it was first mentioned, I didn’t think much of it, but then I pulled up the lyrics to read through them. As military spouses, we’re walking the line every day.

If you aren’t familiar with the song, here’s how it goes:

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a fool for you
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I’ve known proves that it’s right
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

You’ve got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can’t hide
For you I know I’d even try to turn the tide
Because you’re mine, I walk the line

I’m sure you can see how we “walk the line” in our lives. Our service members walk a line for their country, they follow orders, they spend time away from home. We walk a line for our service members.  

At the beginning of your military life journey, navigating this life may have been a challenge. Over time, it doesn’t always get easier, you just get a little more adept at handling each situation. Our other half being gone is one of those things that never gets easier.

For me, this song resonates for those times they’re gone, the times we spend apart, the times we’re lonely. We spend our days and nights with our service member at the forefront of our mind, whether it’s just the overall missing our best friend or when there’s something specific we wish they could be there for.

Walking the line with our service members also means having a love that often spans thousands of miles and months or more of separation. This is the same love that will walk every hall of the hospital if our service member is wounded or will trace the lines of the folded flag if they don’t come home.

The military challenges designating large part of our lives—where we live, how long we can keep a job we love, where our kids will go to school—but we live on the path of that line for the love of our service member.

It’s a line I from which I’ll never waver.