Authors Corner

Yesterday, I found out my cousin's husband has Lymphoma. As my heart ached for my cousin and her husband, my mind went in many directions searching for things I could say or verses I could share that might bring them peace in this fight they have ahead of them. My mind kept coming back to the fear factor.

Military wives, we know fear. We know fear by many names. Some call it loneliness, emptiness, or hopelessness. Others like me call it unknown. It is the unknown that terrifies us but whatever we call fear, it ultimately boils down to the death of something we know. When Dorothy in Wizard of Oz states, "I've a feeling we aren't in Kansas anymore" she meant that things had changed. Whatever life she relied on or knew was suddenly in a split second changed.

Three months ago, I lay in my mom's bed frozen with the knowledge that my life as I knew was changed. My mom had suddenly died and I could no longer touch her. I could not call her or hear her voice again. I could not feel love from her or share love with her anymore. Feeling all that my one prayer was " dear God if I feel this with the loss of my mom, please do not take my husband from me. I could not withstand the pain."

It is odd but even with deployments I never named my fear. Oh, I prayed for protection but it was for the "unknown" I was praying. It was not till I knew my fear that I was able to name my fear. This is why my heart is heavy for my cousin. It is because I have now been there. Military wives, military moms, cancer survivors, widow, and parentless children, we have been there. We know our fear's name.

As my mind searched for Bible verses I was torn in many directions. You could go the worry route and talk about Mathew 5 or you could go the proclamation route and claim Job 19. For me the perfect route would be a direct poke in the devils eye. Seriously it is the devil that helps us down this fearful road so why don't we cling to the one verse that ultimately defeats him. I Corinthians 15:55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"

The one factor the devil continually tries to ignore or help us ignore is the God factor. There are many Biblical verses that encourage our strength in the Lord from Deuteronomy, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah to the New Testament in Mark, Romans and 1 Corinthians. We are told not to fear and taught to cling to the Lord for our strength. The Bible is an incredible weapon to use against the devil and our fears.

There is one weapon that I believe we either forget about or don't fully understand and that is the power of prayer. As we stand next to our sister in Christ and we so desperately want to say something or do something that will bring them peace, please remember to pray. Don't tell them you are going to pray for them. Do it right were you stand. It doesn't have to be pretty or profound. It just has to be honest and from your heart.

Don't make assumption about people and assume because someone looks like a tough nut that they are OK. I am as tough as they come and I promise you that there is a fragile creature inside. I often tell people to visualize a little girl with a blanket squatting in a corner. That is how I often feel inside. It is God that gives me strength. It is God that moves me forward. It is prayerful friends that keep me on my feet.

With all that said let us stop for a moment in our busy days and lift a prayer for all who know their fear by name.

Dearest Heavenly Father, I thank you for the privilege to come in Your name and to lift up our fears to You. Please God be with those ladies that are facing many trials at this time. Whether it is loss or fear of loss, please be with them today. Bring beside them the encouragement they need. In a radio message or a friend's phone call, whatever it is, please bring them the knowledge that You are there and that You have not forsaken them. Let them feel Your power. Let them know what power they hold when they call Your name. In some form bring them the knowledge they need to get to know You. Don't let us be by-standers in life God leaving others to suffer on their own. Strike our hearts with compassion. Bring to mind those that we need to lift up in prayer. Bring to mind those that we need to reach out to and give us the drive to complete the task and show Your love to others. Don't let our busyness get in the way of our duty to You. Please give us the strength to sit beside each other and show love whether in tears, silent prayers or a compassionate hug. Thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ that through Him we have hope. Death in any form has no sting and for that we praise Your name. In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen.