If you have not read my post "Saying 'Thank You' to a Soldier this Christmas" from last month, you will want to do so before reading further. Tonight I had the absolute honor of meeting "My Soldier". (Yes, I said "my" because he and his family have stolen my heart.) Before I get to that, I have to back up just a tad. Last month I passed by his house and noticed him out front using a walker. I was so upset and naturally wondering what had happened. Had he been in an accident? Was he ok? I began to really pray for him. This evening, we had just gotten home from running a few errands, barely even out of the car and guess who came walking by... yes, "My Soldier". Jason recognized him right away and immediately made an effort to get down our driveway to talk to him. First of all his name is "Mike". Jason asked him if he was ok and told him we had seen him using a walker. He told us that he was injured in August during a training mission, preparing for his next deployment to Afghanistan later this month. He severely injured his back and last month had major back surgery. They had to remove 1 vertebrae, repair two others, put in screws and plates and fuse his back together. After 16 years of bravely serving this country he is about to be forced to retire and enter the civilian life. He is actually going to be looking for a job, soon and has no idea what is in his future. He stood there and told us this story and proceeded to add "Me and my wife know that my life and our future is in my good Lord's hands. We know this happened for a reason and that He has a plan for me. I just have to figure it out. I know we will be ok. I don't care about any compensation or any disability, I was just doing my job. It was an accident. I just want to be healthy so I can take care of my family and spend time with them." I stood there listening to all this and cried, unashamed on my driveway. Now I know why God placed this man and his family on our hearts... before the accident even happened... before he had surgery... before he was faced with a totally new life path. God is a God of provision!! I write this with tears rolling down, so incredibly humbled and honored that God chose us to bless this family. I am undone...
Would you join me in praying for "Mike" and his family as he recovers and goes forward in a new career?
