Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path.

•   Proverbs 3:5-6   •

 

It was early July 2011. 

We were there with others. We looked on with pride and fear as America’s sons, brothers, and fathers took their places in line-up. 

We were there to support them and pray for them, to wish them well and to say, “We will see you later.”

And we watched with pride and fear as America’s sons, brothers, and fathers boarded the bus.

As for me, I couldn’t breathe. I looked at my tall, strong young man but saw the little boy who spent years in the dirt. The boy whom farmers sought out on Sunday mornings, asking him to pray for rain. The little boy who preferred anything outdoors over anything indoors.

And I saw the once light-hearted boy who stood next to me as we watched the towers fall the day before his 12th birthday. The day patriotism moved in his heart. I saw a young man who determined he would one day make a difference.

I saw the teenager who talked with me—sometimes late into the night—about school, football, his future and God.

America’s son, the young man who told his Pop and me, “I am safer in God’s will in Afghanistan than outside His will in Greeneville.”

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After the bus drove out of sight, the families of those who came to support, pray, wish them well and say, “We will see you later,” solemnly slipped into their vehicles. There were no words in our car. I can’t say exactly what moved through the hearts and minds of my family as we drove away…but I remember clearly what moved in me.

Blurry vision and still unable to breathe, I determined I would pray every day—without ceasing—and to trust God to be who He says He is. 

There are things in life that have always caused great awe in me:

The American flag.

Veterans, old and young.

The Star-Spangled Banner.

The Constitution.

The Declaration of Independence.

The truth of a big God who created us and cares about the details of life.

And watching God work in and through my children.

Just as other events change lives forever—births, deaths, storms, graduations, illnesses, weddings—my son’s deployment changed me forever.

I’ll never forget that day in early July.

I learned that trusting God to be God is a journey of obedience. Spiritual battles are won in the light of day as well as the dark of night. There’s mystery in the prompting to pray, but when we are obedient and stop and pray—the Holy Spirit hears and answers.

I’m thankful to the Lord for hearing our prayers for safety and to those, like my son, who sacrificed to protect our freedoms.

We know America is broken right now. I still believe and trust God to do what only He can do.

Let us determine today, to teach our children to trust in the Lord alone and to believe His Word. We can show our loved ones what it looks like to live in obedience to our call as Christians and to be light in a dark world.

Will you please pray with me?

Pray without ceasing.

•   1 Thessalonians 5:17   •

 

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Shelley would like to honor her sons, USMC Sergeant Pierce and USAR Private Pierce. We welcome you to honor your loved ones who serve (or have served) in the comments below and to join us as we continue to pray for our nation.   

in the Quiver