I spent some time tonight making signs to go on the barracks room doors of single soldiers in my husband’s company.
I typed out the name of each single soldier to personalize these signs.
As I did this, I was able to spend some moments praying over each name.
I think that many people care about the military. I get many e-mails, facebook messages, and comments here from people that support soldiers and let me know that they are praying.
I just want to take a moment to remind you when you are praying and offering support of our soldiers that they are real people.
Many times when we pray for a group of people it is easy to see them as just that, a collective group, instead of individuals with real needs.
Our community is experiencing a time of celebration right now. Our soldiers have started returning home from a fourteen month deployment, the redeployment period will last for a few more weeks.
After the celebrations are over, the families and individual soldiers will begin the reintegration process of finding a new normal, processing the last year plus of their life, and adjusting to life out of Iraq and confines of war.
Husbands and wives are going to have to learn to live together again….pray for communication and compromise.
Children are going to adjust to having two parents in the home discipling them….pray for obedience and patience.
Single soldiers are going to go out on the town and adjust to having freedom again…..pray for wise decisions and safety.
A lot changes after more than a year of being apart.
I ask that when you are praying, you would remember that the soldiers you pray for are real people with real struggles.
They have real families,
real ups and downs,
real hurts and pains,
real dreams and desires,
real hopes and fears.
One of my hopes for this blog is that it has given you a real face and name, a real family, that you can relate to when you hear about Army families. We are a unique breed.
Praying over specific names Works for Me when I want to pray for a specific group without viewing them as a faceless, nameless “group”.
Do you know of soldiers in your community?
Do you have family members who serve in the military?
The level of consciousness of and compassion for the military that serves your country that was so high at the beginning of the war has seemingly died down. We need your prayers just as much now as we did then, maybe even more.
So, as our military community is gearing up to welcome our soldiers home, I ask that you pray…specifically pray for the real soldiers and real families that exist here.
Visit Works for Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family to see what works for other families.
LifeAtTheCircus says
Thanks Monica. This was a great reminder. I do pray for your family and my BIL and hubby’s cousin, but honestly, not often enough. And I appreciated the reminder and specific suggestions. This was a great post.
Linda@cookingtipoftheday says
That was a very beautiful post…. thank you for the reminder.. thanks!
Linda@cookingtipoftheday’s last blog post..Recipe: Banana Cream Pie
Erin @ Closing Time says
What an important post! Thank you for reminding us of the individuals (and their families) that serve our country. I know that all prayers are important, but I believe they can be even more effective when we apply the principles you have described!
Erin @ Closing Time’s last blog post..WFMW: Making Rice Work for Me
Rona says
Great post. Our teen is planning on enlisting after he graduates next year.
With our self storage property being so close to Nellis AFB and many of our tenants are military one cannot help but see that they are real people. I tell them that we’ll be praying for them…sometimes I say a pray while they’re there.
Ginger says
This is such a nice post.
Ginger
BTW: You may want to stop by my sis-n-law’s blog and get acquainted.
Ginger says
Here’s the link. It’s called Falling Into God’s Hands. http://fallingintogodshands.blogspot.com/
She also has another blog called Beckoned to Our Knees. http://beckonedtoourknees.blogspot.com/
The first one is her personal blog and the second is a blog chronically her son Alex’s journey. You will find details there.
Thanks,
Ginger
Ginger’s last blog post..Strawberry Jello Cake WFM!
erin says
What a wonderful post, Monica! I will definitely be praying for your family, the other military families I know, and all military and their families. I have a great respect for the soldiers and you spouses as you take care of things while they are away! God bless you for all you do and the sacrifice that you all make everyday!! Take care! So glad he’s coming home soon, Monica 🙂
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Rezbi says
I agree with you… soldiers are only doing what they’re told to do… most of them, anyway.
However, what people tend to forget, in this land thousands of miles away, is that the people of Iraq, Paelstine, Afghanistan, etc, are also human beings.
These are people who are being bombed, displaced form their homes and having their homes destroyed.
A lot of these are also children, like your daughter(?) in the picture, who are crying, starving and dying because of what’s going on over there.
It’s easy to forget them, so far away.
Rezbi’s last blog post..MP: Arrest British Jews fighting for IDF
Rezbi says
Whoops!
I see the picture changes.
Nice blog, by the way.
Rezbi’s last blog post..MP: Arrest British Jews fighting for IDF
Nancy M. says
You are right, it can be hard to put a name or a face to those kinds of prayers if you don’t know someone who is enlisted. I do try to do my best and remember those in the service for I am forever grateful for what they do for us!
Nancy M.’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
Storm says
I pray daily for all of our troops. Thanks for the reminder.
Julie From Inmates says
LOVE LOVE LOVE this post. So true. All of it! I am addng you to my favorites. =)
Julie From Inmates’s last blog post..Dear Deployment