This past weekend I was a presenter at a three-day event. I always love the opportunity to connect with others, and I’m never disappointed by the divine appointments that God arranges. This time God outdid Himself.
I’ve written before about the special connection shared by military moms and how we seem to be able to find each other, no matter the size of the crowd that surrounds us. One of the reasons these connections are so precious is because they remind us that we’re not alone.
We understand what it is to nurture a child for years, only to watch them leave for war. While our fears aren’t unique to military moms, our stories are. And having a safe place–and a safe person–to share those stories with is a special gift that God orchestrates.
This weekend was one of those divine appointments for me. I experienced anew the providence of God, when across the breakfast table, another woman and I discovered an incredible connection.
Our two sons served together in the same unit during a deployment to Iraq.
Running into someone whose child served in the same branch of the military is always exciting. But knowing they were serving together in an overseas deployment and actually knew each other brings a feeling that’s hard to describe.
- First, it’s a special gift from God, a reminder that He hasn’t forgotten us.
- Second, it brings a sense of comfort and connectedness. As mothers, we struggle because we can’t know what our sons and daughters have gone through when they’ve been to war.
This often leaves us feeling disconnected from the child we love so much. Running into a mom who’s son was there as well, gave each of us a chance to fill in some of the gaps.
- Finally, it’s a reminder that we need to not be shy about sharing our experiences. Had either of us kept quiet about the fact that we’re military moms, we’d have missed the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
This was my divine appointment, and truly one of my top two serendipitous experiences.
When has God reminded you that He’s not forgotten your soldier, or the struggles you bear? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
