A Military Family in need of prayers

Folks, I cannot go into a lot of detail, but a military family and good friend to this blog has written an email they never wanted to write – because of the inability to give details I can share only this:

“[he] has been wounded very badly. The doctors have said I need to be prepared to lose him. If there’s a positive, they said most other men would have died because of the severity of wounds. At present, he’s under heavy sedation.”

The wife of this serviceman – who is a formidable and talented woman of some skill and education – has been with him in hospital for a short time; she is understandably distraught. Those children who can be there, are.

Over the past few years I have had cheerful emails from him – always upbeat, even when things were looking their worst, and completely committed to the mission of eradicating terrorism as a means of movement. This man – educated, intelligent and kind – has spent his whole life in service to his country, because he has a heart of gratitude that could only be rightly expressed through service. When he left for his latest mission, he wrote a teasing email to wish me well (!) and to ask for prayers:

There’s some concern among ourselves about the direction the entire war on terror will be going with a new president. Whoever that may be, (R) or (D), is immaterial. We can see our support ebbing away, questioning whether we, in the military, can do the job that’s been given to us. Trust us, we can do it if we’re given the time and resources. Nonetheless, we have good morale, good optimism – especially among the group of men I’m proud to be part of.

I recall when he was deployed, his wife writing to tell me that this time she was unusually weepy and concerned. A few months ago she wrote to me asking for the inclusion of one of his group into my prayerbook, and sadly, that serviceman did not make it. Possibly more remarkable than our military men and women are their families, who wake up every day knowing that all they can do is trust and pray and trust some more.

I cannot tell you his name – but if you could storm heaven for “Beloved and his family” at this time – for miracles if God wills them, for peace and consolation if not. The need is great. Please keep these people “in your pockets,” so to speak. Perhaps offer something up for their behalf, keeping this in mind: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church…(Colossians 1:24)

Thank you – I’ll keep you apprised as I learn things. Deacon Greg has more