Make 2014 a year of Sharing
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He
loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with
Christ (by grace you have been saved)” – Ephesians 2:4-5
She stepped from the
train with her bag in her hand and fear in her eyes. When she boarded the train her family,
friends and neighbors were there to give her hugs and see her off to this new
adventure. The uniform scratched her
neck and the cap concealed the little trace of hair left after she cut it off
that prior weekend. She boarded the bus
along with a hand full of others and the as the wheels began moving, she began
to question her decision. As the bus
rolled down the road all she could see were faint lights on the horizon shining
through the vast darkness of the countryside lined with barb wire fences. The bus came to a stop at a checkpoint and a
few soldiers boarded with dogs and flashlights.
They looked through bags, under seats and in coat pockets and then
deboarded with a statement, “It’s all clean.”
The bus continued through the raised gate and onto the compound that
would become her home for the next 6 months.
Then she would be off to Afghanistan or Turkey for her first round of
service to her country. In her backpack,
she carried a letter from her brother, a picture of her family and her Bible, given
to her by her Dad before he died.
She knew no-one on the bus, in this camp or overseas, where she was headed. She had a chip on shoulder from the boyfriend of her past who told her she would never amount to anything, before he left her for another. What drove this young woman was a desire to protect her country, give back to those that had gone on before and to help those in need across the sea. She was not a militant, but a servant. She joined so she could help the children of war torn countries find peace and love amidst the ugliness of war. She joined so she could defend the helpless, the poverished and the weak. She wanted to make a difference.
In her first week at the camp she crumbled under the ridicule, the torment, the abuse and the sheer exhaustion of becoming a soldier. Her female status was ripped away and she became just another cadet trying to get through basic training. There were no friends, no family, no charity and no love in her life. She woke up before the dawn and went to sleep long after the sunset. In between was sheer torture as the instructors worked to toughen her up and prepare her for what lies ahead. She would gain confidence and fortitude over the coming months, as they continually belittled her and verbally abused her at every chance. Her body became toned as never before and the pain was no longer evident when she worked out each day. Day after day, week after week, month after month; in the rain, sleet or sun she would drive herself to improve and become the soldier they wanted her to be.
No longer was she the meek, soft hearted girl from Tennessee. She had long since forgotten that train ride and feelings of homesickness. Her Dad’s Bible sat in her foot locker below everything else, literally unopened for many weeks now. Finally the time came for her graduation. She spoke to her brother and he told her “Momma’s not doing well. We’re not going to make it.” As the ceremony ended all of her cadet friends were surrounded by their families. She watched with envy: hugs, laughter and happiness that she hadn’t felt in such a long time.
Her orders came in and she was to be stationed in Afghanistan, shipping out in 2 days. She called her brother and over the phone broke down in tears at the loneliness. They couldn’t travel to California to see her off and she couldn’t go to see them before she left. Alone in her bunk, she began to pack her things. She placed her Dad’s Bible on the top of her duffle bag before closing it up, and off to the airport she went. Arriving in Kabul, she was taken to her bunkhouse. She was one of 3 women in their platoon and did not see eye to eye with either of the other two. For the next week or 10 days she became acclimated with her surroundings and the area; where to go, where to avoid, safe zones and hot zones. As she woke that next morning on day 11, she received a summons from her Sergeant’s office. A call had come from her brother at home – “Momma’s gone. She died in her sleep. ” She rose from her chair, not a single tear, looked him in the eye; “Is that it?” and she turned to walk back to her bunk.
She opened her duffle bag, took out the picture and saw the faces of the only ones who ever really loved her. Her Dad died years ago, her Mom was now gone as well. Her baby brother was still at home with her extended family. She ran her finger over her Mom’s face in the picture and gave it a small kiss before opening the Bible to place it back within. As she opened the Bible her brothers letter fell out.
She knew no-one on the bus, in this camp or overseas, where she was headed. She had a chip on shoulder from the boyfriend of her past who told her she would never amount to anything, before he left her for another. What drove this young woman was a desire to protect her country, give back to those that had gone on before and to help those in need across the sea. She was not a militant, but a servant. She joined so she could help the children of war torn countries find peace and love amidst the ugliness of war. She joined so she could defend the helpless, the poverished and the weak. She wanted to make a difference.
In her first week at the camp she crumbled under the ridicule, the torment, the abuse and the sheer exhaustion of becoming a soldier. Her female status was ripped away and she became just another cadet trying to get through basic training. There were no friends, no family, no charity and no love in her life. She woke up before the dawn and went to sleep long after the sunset. In between was sheer torture as the instructors worked to toughen her up and prepare her for what lies ahead. She would gain confidence and fortitude over the coming months, as they continually belittled her and verbally abused her at every chance. Her body became toned as never before and the pain was no longer evident when she worked out each day. Day after day, week after week, month after month; in the rain, sleet or sun she would drive herself to improve and become the soldier they wanted her to be.
No longer was she the meek, soft hearted girl from Tennessee. She had long since forgotten that train ride and feelings of homesickness. Her Dad’s Bible sat in her foot locker below everything else, literally unopened for many weeks now. Finally the time came for her graduation. She spoke to her brother and he told her “Momma’s not doing well. We’re not going to make it.” As the ceremony ended all of her cadet friends were surrounded by their families. She watched with envy: hugs, laughter and happiness that she hadn’t felt in such a long time.
Her orders came in and she was to be stationed in Afghanistan, shipping out in 2 days. She called her brother and over the phone broke down in tears at the loneliness. They couldn’t travel to California to see her off and she couldn’t go to see them before she left. Alone in her bunk, she began to pack her things. She placed her Dad’s Bible on the top of her duffle bag before closing it up, and off to the airport she went. Arriving in Kabul, she was taken to her bunkhouse. She was one of 3 women in their platoon and did not see eye to eye with either of the other two. For the next week or 10 days she became acclimated with her surroundings and the area; where to go, where to avoid, safe zones and hot zones. As she woke that next morning on day 11, she received a summons from her Sergeant’s office. A call had come from her brother at home – “Momma’s gone. She died in her sleep. ” She rose from her chair, not a single tear, looked him in the eye; “Is that it?” and she turned to walk back to her bunk.
She opened her duffle bag, took out the picture and saw the faces of the only ones who ever really loved her. Her Dad died years ago, her Mom was now gone as well. Her baby brother was still at home with her extended family. She ran her finger over her Mom’s face in the picture and gave it a small kiss before opening the Bible to place it back within. As she opened the Bible her brothers letter fell out.
Sissy,
I’m so proud of
you. You are my hero. There will come a time when you feel all
alone in this world. Do not lose heart
for you are a daughter of God Almighty.
He knows right where you are, and just how you feel. Don’t forget that we love you dearly and even
though we are far apart, the love of Christ will always hold us together.
Love, John
Tears began falling as she folded up the paper
and put it back into the Bible. As she
set the Bible down it opened to the Ephesians 2, where her Dad had highlighted
the 4th and 5th verse.
There was a sticky note on the page where he wrote these words: “Kids, There will come a day when I am gone
and you are feeling alone in this great big world. Rest assured that you are not. God is with you always. His spirit lives inside of you, comforts you
and brings you hope. The world may be
against you, but you must remained focus on the end game. God’s grace and love is more important than
anything in this world. Hold it close
and do not turn from it. His love will
see you home. Daddy.” As the words sank in, she missed her Dad all
the more. But, in his wisdom, he was
able to talk her through this difficult transition in life with sound advice to
follow God through the tough times. Love, John
There will come a time in each of your lives when you feel abandoned, alone and unloved. Those you have held close will die one day and it will feel as if their love for you died with them. The reality is that your Father in heaven loves you so much more than they ever could, and if you fall into His arms, He promises to carry you through the pain. Trust in God through the hurt, the suffering and the pain. He never turns away and His love is always there when you need it most. Remind yourself that you are saved and destined for eternity in heaven because He loved you first.
© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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