Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Breathe in. Breathe out. Pray.



That is how I figure I'll be getting through the next few months as Josiah left for Afghanistan today. I know his life is, and always has been in God's hands. (Can you hear the "but" coming?)
But the thing is, I don't know what God has planned. And that is particularly hard, I think, when your son is going into combat zones where people seriously want to harm him.
That is the hardest thing to wrap my mind around. Maybe I'm naive or just stupid, but I can't think of why someone would want to hurt my boy.
The picture at the top is how Josiah would like us, his parents, to think of him. The pictures below are how I actually see him, so sending him into war, into harm's way literally hurts my heart. I remember kissing his baby feet and bouncing him after his bath while we dried him off. I remember how his Dad made him laugh first. Priceless, really. I remember how he always tried so hard to take car of his baby sister, usually to the point of almost hurting her.

Moms remember all those chubby baby moments and superimpose them on their their soldier sons.
Even though I know intellectually he is grown up, trained and ready to go, I still see my precious boy, and man, does that hurt.


Lord God I pray for you to protect Josiah and bring him home to us. I know you see him with perfect vision, both the man and the boy.Help me to see things from your perspective, because sometimes I get too wrapped up in mine.
But remember how adorable he was when he would hide his eyes and think we couldn't see him? And remember when he fed Amy that lemon pie on Easter morning, before Rod and I got up?
I know you remember those times, and I'm so thankful that you love Siah even more than us.Let him see his need for you every day,and be ready with an answer for the guys around him. Please, Lord, keep him safe.

He was always skilled and multi talented, as you can see.You can probably tell, just from these pictures, that he would grow up to put out fires and save peoples' lives. I know we could.

Also, cute as a bug's ear, wasn't he?

7 comments:

Liza on Maui said...

I'd be breathing in and breathing out and praying with you. Our soldiers on the battlefield are always on my mind.

Anonymous said...

Diane~
This is amazing. Like Siah always says...it made my eyes leak. I know how much I miss him, I can't imagine how you as a mother must feel. But we all know that god is watching over him and keeping him safe. I pray for him every night. You truly have an amazing son, he has touched so many peoples lives and I feel so blessed to be one of those people! The pictures really made me smile. Such a cutie! I hope you and Rod are doing well, I have been thinking about you guys since Siah left. Four months and he will be home safe in Oregon. Well I just wanted to let you know this blog was wonderful. If you want to keep in touch my e-mail is ashley_miller_20@hotmail.com.
~Ashley

ang said...

Love it. Thanks for sharing. Those pics are priceless! And so is the love between moms and sons, isn't it?

Andrea@Sgt and Mrs Hub said...

As I was reading this postI was putting myself in your shoes - Whoa! It was incredibly difficult to see my husband deploy, but to think of my son deploying makes my heart hurt.

I'm praying that the peace that passes all understanding will be yours, tonight and every night.

-Andrea

Detroit said...

Thanks for stopping by! Your heart for your son is beautiful. I have a BIL going back to Iraq in August so I can only imagine your heart as a mother. Blessings to you as you walk through this.

ann said...

What great pictures and wonderful memories. I have a son who is 17 1/2 and I can't imagine having to see him leave in the same way your son is leaving. I will lift him in prayer before God and you, too. It is funny how we still see our children as children. I have three grown daughters, all married, all with children and homes of their own - but to me, they're still my little girls!
In His Love and Blessings,
annb

Julo said...

You've made me cry...I pray the Lord's peace and protection upon your beautiful family. How long will your son be gone?? Thank him from all the random women in the blogosphere for his sacrifice-and yours, too.