The Lord had done great things for us; we were joyful…Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
Psalm 126: 3, 5
How can you sign for your 17-year-old son to join the Marines? Well, it is an honorable profession. What if he gets killed? He could be killed by walking across the street and a bus hitting him. More come back from a war than those who do not.
Mama, I am shipping out to Iraq tomorrow. Remember that we love you very much!! Always remember that God loves you!
Hello, Mama. Have you and Daddy been listening to the news? Why do you ask? Oh, we had a bomb at Al Asad, and I did not want you to worry. We are all fine. The Mosque, however, is not.
Mama, I am okay. I got blown off the back of a truck when an IED hit. I landed in a sand dune. All I could think was, OH NO! They are going to tell my Mama that I drowned in sand. An MP jumped off the truck and asked me if I could run. I said I could, so we ran and hung on the last vehicle in the convoy. You mean you became a moving target. Well, yes, a convoy does not stop for anything because there might be another attack.
I saved a Captain from electrocution today. He was standing in water and touched a live wire. What did you do? I ran and kicked his knees to get him out of the water. Oh, so then you could have been electrocuted. No, I was not in the water.
Today, on our convoy the driver was speeding over the bumpy dirt roads. I got bounced out of the back of the truck. I looked down and saw the road beneath me. Thank God, the Sergeant reached out and grabbed my arm. He pulled me back into the truck. My head hit the truck bed, and I blacked out. Mama, the MPs handcuffed me today and took me to the Naval hospital. I had to see the psychiatrist. I probably have PTSD.
Yes, I believed even when all this happened, and I will continue to believe.
Prayer:
Oh, Holy God, continue to be with us as we live our daily lives. Although things are rough for many people this year, we live with the HOPE and KNOWLEDGE of the resurrection. The waiting during this pandemic has allowed us to make room in our hearts and minds for You. Make us grow stronger with each day of waiting for Your redemption of the world. Amen.
Daphne G. Grady
Mother of Paul Grady Madden, USMC, honorably discharged June, 2009