Home At Last!

Never has 7 months seemed so long! Just after 2200 hrs. (10:00 p.m.) on April 6th, we had the privilege of joining several hundred other families at Camp LeJuene, N.C., to welcome our Marines back from Iraq. To stand in the midst of that cheering crowd of anxious onlookers as those buses rolled in was unbelievable.

I don’t think we will ever forget that night; seeing what has become such an obvious answer to prayer. Fear is a powerful motivator. For almost 210 nights we had read the 91st Psalm and prayed for God’s protection and safety on our son. Our prayers were answered. For the majority of our son’s life we had been the protectors, the caretakers, the parents. We had been on the sidelines of countless baseball games, basketball games,and golf matches, cheering as our son did his part in supporting the team. But for 7 long months our son was half a world away, protecting us and millions of other Americans. There is no place for a mom or dad on the sidelines in a war zone. Our roles have changed but our feelings haven’t. We are still our son’s enthusiastic cheerleaders and even have a sticker on our car that reads, Proud Parent of a United State Marine.

Our son’s return was marked with a measure of sadness for the loss of 3 men in his company and more than 50 wounded. Since the war in Iraq began over 4 years ago we’ve been made aware of the death toll on the nightly news. We know the death toll is nearing 3500 but perhaps we are not as keenly aware that almost 18,000 have been wounded. How we need to be praying for all of those families.

After several days of tying up loose ends we were able to leave North Carolina and head home. The drive home was unbelievably more enjoyable than the one just 7 months before as we saw our son off to war. Finally the 6 hour road trip was over. As we turned into our street we were greeted by cars parked on both sides of the street and a flag-waving crowd of friends, neighbors and church members lining the driveway, milling around in the yard waiting on the arrival of “a young Marine” home from war.

Life doesn’t get much better than this. The only thing left to be said is, “To God Be The Glory, Great Things He Has Done!”

In a couple of months our son's enlistment will end and he will be discharged from active duty. Because of security concerns I had to be somewhat cautious about what I published online. Over the next several weeks it would be an honor to share some of the details of this four year journey. Thanks so much for your prayer support!

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

“The light at the end of the tunnel” is an interesting phrase. I have not been able to discern its origin. One source suggested that it was first used in 1922. Another source suggested it was made popular by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 in regard to our involvement in Vietnam. The phrase is defined as, “hope that something will end soon and favorably” or “to be able to see the completion of a journey, task or project.”

All I know is that a difficult deployment to Iraq is soon coming to an end and our family can return to some sense of normalcy. I can’t give a specific date because travel details are still to be made. So at least I can say with certainty that we are beginning to see “the light at the end of the tunnel” and I am grateful for the many prayers that have been prayed on our son’s behalf.

The Marine Corps has afforded our son fine training and good equipment, but I credit the hand of our great God and the prayers of countless people for the safety and protection our son has enjoyed.

Thank you for allowing me to share a little of this journey with you. Because of safety concerns I have not been at liberty to be real specific with details. Upon his return I want to fill in some of the gaps with details.

Yes, we’re beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I might add, it is shining brighter each day.

The Christmas Phone Call

It’s been a few days since we’ve had the joy of hearing our son’s voice from Iraq. Christmas morning takes on a different flavor when one of your family members is 12,000 miles away. In spite of your best efforts, it’s hard to keep from being emotional at times, especially when you circle up to pray before the traditional Christmas breakfast or when you open presents and one chair is empty.

As we made it through the day there’s this gnawing feeling that if you could just hear that voice and be assured he is okay then you would feel so much better.

As the day wore on I thought of the poem that someone had sent me recently. It goes like this:

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

That poem reminds me of how truly blessed we are as a nation to have gallant, brave young men and women watching over us in far away lands, living in adverse conditions and facing constant danger.

As I looked at my watch it was already 3:00 a.m. in Iraq and it was already December 26th. If we were to have a “Christmas phone call” it would have to be soon. If only we could know he was safe, what a Christmas this would be. God is so good! Within a matter of minutes the phone rang and sure enough our prayers were answered. God gave us the privilege of hearing that beloved voice again. (He even provided some hungry Marines with a Christmas dinner of Steak and Lobster – but they’ve earned it.)

Once again we were able to acknowledge the goodness of God!

Merry Christmas
Semper Fi

FEAR - False Evidence Appearing Real

One might think that after 95 days of separation during a deployment, families would find each day getting easier. To the contrary—I think perhaps it gets more difficult. Each day brings new challenges, new dangers and new fears. This past week vividly brought that fact home to us.

Our son was one of several selected to attend a five-day school at another location some distance from his base. They were flown by helicopter to their destination. This five-day school brought the possibility of several nice perks most deployed Marines don’t enjoy. After each day-long class these Marines had hot showers, soft beds, hot food (including Pizza Hut, Burger King, and Subway), movies, a gym, a military exchange (shopping center), a telephone center and internet access, and the relative safety of a well fortified base. Those five days flew by, and it was time to return to the real world of a combat Marine. That real world consists of MRE’s (Meals Ready To Eat), sleeping in abandoned buildings with no power, infrequent showers, and the constant danger of insurgent attacks and IED’s.

We enjoyed the opportunity of talking with our son several times during those five days. We knew he was to depart for his forward operating base sometime on Sunday. We heard his return helicopter flight might be delayed or cancelled, resulting in the possibility of return by convoy.

We started a new week with the morning news report that a Marine helicopter had gone down. Four of the 16 occupants did not survive. Fear has a way of gripping your heart and paralyzing your ability to focus on anything else. After nearly 36 hours of waiting, agonizing and praying, the long awaited phone call came, and our Marine’s voice assured us he was safe and back on post. He was delayed but took a later flight. Once again we were reminded of God’s continued care for our son. Psalm 121:7-8 reminds us, “The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

As we rejoiced in the news of our son’s safety, we were also reminded that four families received the sad news of that helicopter crash. May we never forget the sacrifice of these brave Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Coast Guard, but also the families they leave behind.

Semper Fi!

Prayer for a Wounded Warrior

Please allow me the opportunity to dedicate this page to a courageous Marine 2nd Lieutenant by the name of Andrew Kinard. Andrew was involved in a roadside bombing incident in Iraq several weeks ago. 2nd Lt. Kinard was on a routine patrol with his men on a Sunday morning when he was hit from what has been termed an I.E.D. (Improvised Explosive Device). Andrew sustained traumatic abdominal injuries and the loss of both legs. After being flown to a hospital outside of Baghdad, Andrew was transported to Germany where he received incredible treatment to prepare him to come back to the states. Tonight Andrew is a patient at Bethesda Military Hospital outside of Washington, D.C.

I want to encourage all who read this page to pray for Andrew and his family. He is beginning to show signs of improvement, but the road to recovery will no doubt be long.

Andrew’s sister recently wrote, “I just look at him in the bed and I feel so much pride. Though so weak, he is so strong. When I look down on him, I see so much more than a hurting body. I see his strength of character, his love for the Lord, and his passion for life. These attributes have helped keep him alive and will surely bless others in the days to come.”

I am reminded once again that we never know what a day may hold. Our lives can change in a moment. That is why it is so vitally important that we know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. When life takes one of those unforeseen turns, you can know that no matter what that day holds you are held in the hand of a loving Heavenly Father. In John 10:28-29, Jesus said, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

You can follow Andrew’s progress, as well as leave a word of encouragement at the following website: caringbridge.org. Once you have successfully logged on, click on "visit." In the box entitled "site name" type in andrewkinard. The letters should be lower case with no space between the first and last name.

This brave 2nd Lieutenant is a child of God. God is in control of all things, including tragic events. As Andrew’s Mom says, “nothing is lost in God’s economy.”

Semper Fi!

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

He Cares For Us

October has proven to be the deadliest month for American troops in Iraq this year. I guess there are at least a couple of reasons for the increased attacks. This has been the month-long celebration of Ramadan. The terrorists believe they are especially close to Allah and have greater reward by taking the life of an American serviceman during this time. Quite possibly they also believe an elevated casualty count will influence our November elections. That sure makes a parent uneasy when you know your son is out in the field or patrolling some city street and you haven’t heard from him in several days.

My desire was and still is that this Blog not become a platform for political beliefs. My intent is to simply share my thoughts and fears along one of life’s difficult journeys.

Worry – yes I’ve done my share (and probably will until I see his boots touch American soil). I know we serve a great God who is all powerful, who hears and answers our prayers. I am constantly reminded of one of my favorite verses. First Peter 5:7 simply says, “Casting all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you.” I’m trying to do that more diligently.

I recently read something that said, “Worry will eat your lunch! It will eat your breakfast and dinner, too!” I’m trying to remember that when I worry about tomorrow. Worry brings tomorrow’s difficulties into today. There are two days I can do nothing about…yesterday and tomorrow. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. So I have to live right now, knowing He’s still on the throne. He has promised that if I draw close to Him, He reciprocates and draws close to me.

Oh, by the way, my fear about this last day of Ramadan has just been laid to rest. Our son called a little while ago. He’s back at his forward operating base for several hours. He’s well, has had a hot meal and a shower, and was talking about the puppy named Omar his platoon has adopted. God is good!

Semper Fi!