Comfort, Consolation, and a Call to Spiritual Arms

A post by Blackfive and Baldilocks prompted this morning's thoughts.

As young lovers, R and I were parted for him to serve the United States by service in the U.S. Marine Corps in Desert Storm. I was pregnant with our first child; my heart, also, gravid with anxiety.

While reading my Bible one morning, I came across this scripture:

"And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."

Isaiah 58:11

My heart was immediately unfettered.

I wrote this down and sent it to him. It was "our" assurance that no matter the outcome of the war, God was most assuredly looking after my husband, the friend of my friends; the Lover of My Soul was keeping the lover of my heart and body.

He did return home to me in April 1991. This time only my womb was swollen with the consummation of our love and commitment to one another. E became the assurance of God's desire for us to be together. The men had to stand in formation for a few minutes before being released to the bosoms of their loved ones. I stared at R, taking in his handsome face, tanned from the desert sun; his strong back that served him well in leading his men; his hands that honorably folded in prayer and around his weapon in defense of other Marines and in offense at eliminating the enemy; his legs that humped many miles for the freedom of the Kuwaiti people; his feet that he proudly stood on, walked on, ran on in desert sand and humbly shod with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My heart was briefly impregnated again with faith, hope, love, and immeasureable gratitude to God that not only would I have the man I loved home again with me, but that we would be privileged together to bring up the child that was wiggling in my body- the fruit our love. I determined then that our child would know the story of her father's bravery and integrity, along with all those who honorably serve the United States and have and will continue to procur the freedom of this country and to defend the defenseless.

My soul grieves for those who are not greeted by the smile and embrace of their son; daughter; wife; husband; aunt; uncle; cousin; mother; father. Please continue to pray for the families who must bury their loved one. I pray also that they hold the assuring comfort of an eternal reunion someday.