We have so many reasons to be thankful to so many segments of society.
One in particular I am keenly in touch with is the military portion... which after so many years of war is worn out. Many are frequently hospitalized, mentally depressed or, worse, ill. Just saw an article in USA Today that showed more hospital stays for military are associated with mental health than physical now. That's saying something! The only longer stays are for those with amputations and subsequent recoveries. Wow.
Now, when we send our spouses off to war, there is a huge toll at home as well. It's awful. Painful. And if you don't have a Bunco group, excruciating.
There is a grand gnashing of teeth as we discover what it's like to play house. Alone.
Eh.
Ah!
ARRRGGGHHH!!!
So we get sympathy, GRAND SYMPATHY, from all over the land. Thanks for all you do, you are awesome, we are thinking of you, I don't know how you do it, God bless America.
It's nice.
But in all this, military spouses, have we taken a minute to consider those whose husbands are permanently gone? Usually not. We are focused on just surviving, and doing what we need to to survive, and, I hate to say it, focused on ourselves. But think for a moment of those whose husbands aren't around, for the long haul.
Single moms.
Single moms!
How do YOU do it, thanks for all you do, you are awesome, I am thinking of you, and God bless YOU!!!!
What if we military spouses could take back our pity parties and use that time to pour into those who are just trying to survive all the time? Or if that is not an option, start doing it now? We should. We know FIRST HAND what it's like to be mom AND dad, what it's like to have to choose extra-curriculars, what it's like to wheedle things OFF the schedule, or more ON the schedule if we hate to be alone at home... what it's like to spend dinners with our precious little ones, but rarely with adult conversation as well... It's a thought.
I know that not everyone is pining away for their significant-other, or significant-used-to-be. I know some choose it.
But for those who didn't, I salute you: I don't know how you do it.
Putting it out there: I believe my WRONG CALL was believing I was entitled to any sort of pity during my season of single parenthood. I prayed against entitlement-pity but it snuck in all the time. The wrong call was believing my experience was all about me, that the STUFF I went through was to make ME stronger for me, to prove toughness. As a believer, I KNEW it was instead to redirect the glory to God. Oftentimes, though, that didn't happen. I have this thing where I like to own toughness :)
But just looking back, I am grateful for my season of single mom-ness, because I believe it gave me a heart of COMPASSION for those who do that all the time.
I also think, that with all the strength I have seen in my fellow single parents, God has prepared us for something far bigger than personal pity or a tendency toward entitled pity. He has prepared us to strengthen others. Some don't want or need the help, I get it. I just know I did, and it was only for a short deployment. Military spouses have been through a decade of seeing their spouses off, seeing friends' spouses off, seeing their spouses home, seeing others spouses home, the joys, the sorrows... It's unparalleled the range of emotions.
Having been through a season like we have, I truly believe military spouses are now prepared to gird up others in the truth and strength that God is with us, an ever present rock in times of trouble. And far more than that belief, He has equipped us with REAL PRACTICAL SKILLS to lift up our sisters and brothers who don't have a present partner in the raising of little souls. We know how to whip up meals to take to someone in a jiffy, we know when to stop and listen and provide adult conversation, and we certainly know how helpful it can be to watch kids for a bit...
Let's be mindful of those who might want someone's help. Let's not limit ourselves, or our service, to the service.
One in particular I am keenly in touch with is the military portion... which after so many years of war is worn out. Many are frequently hospitalized, mentally depressed or, worse, ill. Just saw an article in USA Today that showed more hospital stays for military are associated with mental health than physical now. That's saying something! The only longer stays are for those with amputations and subsequent recoveries. Wow.
Now, when we send our spouses off to war, there is a huge toll at home as well. It's awful. Painful. And if you don't have a Bunco group, excruciating.
There is a grand gnashing of teeth as we discover what it's like to play house. Alone.
Eh.
Ah!
ARRRGGGHHH!!!
So we get sympathy, GRAND SYMPATHY, from all over the land. Thanks for all you do, you are awesome, we are thinking of you, I don't know how you do it, God bless America.
It's nice.
But in all this, military spouses, have we taken a minute to consider those whose husbands are permanently gone? Usually not. We are focused on just surviving, and doing what we need to to survive, and, I hate to say it, focused on ourselves. But think for a moment of those whose husbands aren't around, for the long haul.
Single moms.
Single moms!
How do YOU do it, thanks for all you do, you are awesome, I am thinking of you, and God bless YOU!!!!
What if we military spouses could take back our pity parties and use that time to pour into those who are just trying to survive all the time? Or if that is not an option, start doing it now? We should. We know FIRST HAND what it's like to be mom AND dad, what it's like to have to choose extra-curriculars, what it's like to wheedle things OFF the schedule, or more ON the schedule if we hate to be alone at home... what it's like to spend dinners with our precious little ones, but rarely with adult conversation as well... It's a thought.
I know that not everyone is pining away for their significant-other, or significant-used-to-be. I know some choose it.
But for those who didn't, I salute you: I don't know how you do it.
Putting it out there: I believe my WRONG CALL was believing I was entitled to any sort of pity during my season of single parenthood. I prayed against entitlement-pity but it snuck in all the time. The wrong call was believing my experience was all about me, that the STUFF I went through was to make ME stronger for me, to prove toughness. As a believer, I KNEW it was instead to redirect the glory to God. Oftentimes, though, that didn't happen. I have this thing where I like to own toughness :)
But just looking back, I am grateful for my season of single mom-ness, because I believe it gave me a heart of COMPASSION for those who do that all the time.
I also think, that with all the strength I have seen in my fellow single parents, God has prepared us for something far bigger than personal pity or a tendency toward entitled pity. He has prepared us to strengthen others. Some don't want or need the help, I get it. I just know I did, and it was only for a short deployment. Military spouses have been through a decade of seeing their spouses off, seeing friends' spouses off, seeing their spouses home, seeing others spouses home, the joys, the sorrows... It's unparalleled the range of emotions.
Having been through a season like we have, I truly believe military spouses are now prepared to gird up others in the truth and strength that God is with us, an ever present rock in times of trouble. And far more than that belief, He has equipped us with REAL PRACTICAL SKILLS to lift up our sisters and brothers who don't have a present partner in the raising of little souls. We know how to whip up meals to take to someone in a jiffy, we know when to stop and listen and provide adult conversation, and we certainly know how helpful it can be to watch kids for a bit...
Let's be mindful of those who might want someone's help. Let's not limit ourselves, or our service, to the service.
