As I sit on this beautiful morning, I am remembering a time with my Dad. As we sat in the dining room of their home. At that time, they had downsized to a mobile home (you wouldn’t dare call it a trailer in front of Mom!) and he had just received a shipment from Time Life Books on WWII. He had previously ordered them with great zest, as he served from 1938 – 1975, both Army and Navy, Navy then Army then Naval Reserve. The first part of his military career during WWII

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So, there we were, ready to unpack the box and open the books…he opened the first book…not at the beginning pages, he always opened books in the center and ‘broke them in’. I will never forget the look on his face as he stared at the first picture of the once sandy beach of Normandy covered with the bodies of the men who were taken down like sheep led to the slaughter. Daddy closed the book after what seemed to be an eternity and simply said, ‘I believe these will be left for someone else in the family to look at down the road…there are just some things that need to remain buried.’

I don’t know what happened to those books, I just know that I will never forget that moment. The hurt and pain that washed over Dad was nearly unbearable for a daughter who thought her Daddy was invincible. I knew then that war creates brokenness in more ways than one and can not be washed away by welcome home parties, or parades or simply ‘thank you’. Although these are wonderful things, and we should ALWAYS be grateful to those who sacrificed their lives for freedom to reign, we must remember the scars that are there and while helping the wounds heal, we remember to be gentle with the scars that are left behind.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.Then, when our dying bodies

have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O grave, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:51-56 NLT)

To those of you who read this article, especially to those who have served, are serving or have supported a loved one of the same, and for those whose wounds are still healing and the scars still tender, the Lord has not forsaken you and peace will come as you allow Him to wrap His arms around you. He came to release us from the burdens of this life, He came to heal all of our wounds, He died and rose again so that you would too. Release it all today. We are praying for you and as you are out and about and you see the colors on our back of the Bible and praying hands, we truly do stand for what that represents, so ask anytime and we are here for you.

With all sincerity of heart….THANK YOU!

Mary G.