A Praying Mom
It’s not unusual for a pastor’s phone to ring in the middle of the night. Being a relatively light sleeper, I was reaching for the light when the phone rang this morning just before 5:00 a.m. I was not surprised that my wife had the phone in hand before the second ring. What a joyful surprise it is to awaken to the sound of your son’s voice some 12,000 miles away. Our son is blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and a very positive attitude. It’s that sense of humor, positive attitude, and a strong faith in God that sustains him day in and day out during this deployment. After hanging up the phone we replayed that conversation in our minds and to each other. Just before we turned the lights out for a few more minutes of sleep, my wife said, “I woke up about 3:00 a.m. and I prayed for our son before going back to sleep.”
As the room grew dark my mind drifted back to the little orange printed page tucked away in my wife’s Bible entitled, “A Mother’s Prayer For Her Marine.” The prayer goes like this:
"God, Father of Freedom, look after that boy of mine, wherever he may be. Walk in upon him. Keep his mind stayed on Thee. Talk with him during the silent watches of the night, and spur him to bravery whenever called upon to face the cruel foe. Transfer my prayer to his heart, that he may know the lingering love I have bequeathed to him as an everlasting gift.
"Keep my boy contented and inspired by the never-dying faith in his mother’s God. He is my gift to freedom. May that freedom forever remain untarnished, God. Through the lonely and confusing hours of training and combat, and throughout all the long days of a hopeful victory, keep his spirit high and his purpose unwavering. Make him a proud pal to all with whom he comes in contact and make his influence a noonday light wherever his duty takes him. Satisfy the hunger of his soul with the knowledge of this daily prayer of mine.
"To my country, and to world freedom, O Heavenly Father, have I bequeathed this boy of mine. He is my choicest treasure. Take care of him, God. Keep him in health and sustain him under every possible circumstance of events. Warm him anew under his shelter and under the stars. Touch him with my smile of cheer and comfort and my full confidence in his every brave pursuit.
"Silent and alone, I pray, God, but I am only one of millions of mothers, whose prayers stream day and night to You. This is our Gethsemane. Lead us victoriously through it, God. And lead that boy of mine through his. Fail him not ... and may he not fail You, his country, nor his mother. Thank you, God." (Courtesy of Leatherneck Magazine)
Our son is blessed to have so many people praying for him during the difficult days of this deployment. He is especially blessed to have a praying Mom!
Semper Fi
As the room grew dark my mind drifted back to the little orange printed page tucked away in my wife’s Bible entitled, “A Mother’s Prayer For Her Marine.” The prayer goes like this:
"God, Father of Freedom, look after that boy of mine, wherever he may be. Walk in upon him. Keep his mind stayed on Thee. Talk with him during the silent watches of the night, and spur him to bravery whenever called upon to face the cruel foe. Transfer my prayer to his heart, that he may know the lingering love I have bequeathed to him as an everlasting gift.
"Keep my boy contented and inspired by the never-dying faith in his mother’s God. He is my gift to freedom. May that freedom forever remain untarnished, God. Through the lonely and confusing hours of training and combat, and throughout all the long days of a hopeful victory, keep his spirit high and his purpose unwavering. Make him a proud pal to all with whom he comes in contact and make his influence a noonday light wherever his duty takes him. Satisfy the hunger of his soul with the knowledge of this daily prayer of mine.
"To my country, and to world freedom, O Heavenly Father, have I bequeathed this boy of mine. He is my choicest treasure. Take care of him, God. Keep him in health and sustain him under every possible circumstance of events. Warm him anew under his shelter and under the stars. Touch him with my smile of cheer and comfort and my full confidence in his every brave pursuit.
"Silent and alone, I pray, God, but I am only one of millions of mothers, whose prayers stream day and night to You. This is our Gethsemane. Lead us victoriously through it, God. And lead that boy of mine through his. Fail him not ... and may he not fail You, his country, nor his mother. Thank you, God." (Courtesy of Leatherneck Magazine)
Our son is blessed to have so many people praying for him during the difficult days of this deployment. He is especially blessed to have a praying Mom!
Semper Fi
2 Comments:
Dear Brother Moody, My heart goes out to you and your wife as you wait for your marine son to return home safely. Today as I watched Fox News, I saw where 3 more Marines had been killed and one soldier in the Andar region. I prayed for their loved ones. My heart goes out to all of them, but especially the mothers.
As I read your post and your wife's prayer, I was reminded of mine for my son in the middle of the night one night. Mine was answered differently and it's with a great degree of difficulty I pen this letter. My son is safe today. He's resting in peace and wants no more. He no longer battles this earth's battles, nor wonders why he never could find a place on earth that really "felt" like home. I told him that he'd never really feel at home here because he was only visiting this old earth. We were all homesick for our real home. He smiled a sad smile that day. And I'll never forget how aware he seemed to be at that moment that his deepest longing was to go home. And now, when I pity myself the most, I recall how great it will be when I get to join him someday. God Bless you, your wife, and yours. SelahV
There are many people praying for you and your son, including my wife and me. We experienced some of the difficulties and concerns you now have during the 14-month period our son-in-law was deployed to Iraq. He returned home two-weeks ago, safe and sound, because, we believe, of the many prayers for him and his company. We are thankful for his wonderful homecoming, of course, but we still are concerned for and pray for the men and women serving our country today in the mid-east. May God comfort you and bring you peace as you wait for your son's safe return. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Ben and Polly
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