Home-front battles require warriors, too

We are one month into a significant deployment for those who call Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson home.

There seem to be more and more days within our community that remind us the battle on the home front is just as critical as the combat mission downrange.

One morning this past month reminded me of this. As I reflected on that morning’s events, I was encouraged by the military spouses with whom I shared time.

In spite of their military member being deployed, or absent due to the long hours the job required, they were intentionally going about their lives with great resilience.

There I was, on the hot seat with a room full of beautiful souls – military wives feeling some of the first waves of raw, gritty emotions of their present reality.

They were stronger than they might want to have to be and light-years ahead of where I was at their age and stage of life.

Their own vulnerability was like a truth serum to my spirit.

There was nothing they couldn’t ask me.

They didn’t ache for themselves as much as they ached for their warriors ... and each other.

There were some who sat quietly, but they, no doubt, would leave with a greater understanding of the support they had around them because of the honesty shared within this group.

Food is usually at the center of any fellowship, and this gathering was no different as chocolate pastries were provided as a love offering.

Little bags of big chunks of fresh fudge, adorned with a piece a pastel curly ribbon, were lovingly passed out by one of these home front warriors to each of her comrades who sat around the large table they shared.

There were smiles. Some of those smiles were through tears.

And then there was prayer. Together, we remembered God is with us and will be with us every day of these next nine months and beyond.

In addition to God’s presence, we also realized that a little bit of chocolate here and there, shared with

each other, might be a good thing as well.

I walked and sat and laughed and cried and even whined a bit in the most sacred of places with these home front warriors.

At the end of that particular day I was thankful there were more smiles than tears. God continues to make himself known and present in both our joy and our sorrow.

Ecclesiastes chapter four, verse 12 states; “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better,

for a triple-braided cord is not

easily broken.”

This scripture begs the question: Are you going it alone during a challenging time in your life?

If so, you may be an unprotected warrior.

With a committed and strong warrior companion, you are likely able to face the worst that life can throw your way.

Seeking the help of others can help keep our hearts and minds aligned spiritually, socially, mentally and emotionally.

Having two, three, or even multiple comrades in our life can help us stay strong when we are stretched, help keep us together when we

are most vulnerable in coming unraveled.

We are blessed to be the best-resourced generation of warriors and loved ones ever in the history of the world, but sometimes the greatest need we have is to hear, “You are not alone.”

When in need of a friend, may you have the courage to seek fellowship and, perhaps, be the friend someone else may need as well.