Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: WEAR / WHERE (03/09/23)
-
TITLE: Joy Comes in the Morning | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ellen Janson
03/16/23 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“Mama. I can only take a Bible, a photograph and the clothes I am wearing. They will issue me everything else.”
Even underwear and a toothbrush? I wondered as I tried desperately to hold back the tears.
Had a United States marine officer not shown up at our front door in full dress uniform two days ago, I would not have believed Nathan was really going. He was a sophomore in college. He was going the ROTC route, where he would earn a college degree on the government’s dime, and then give them four years of military service. That was our “deal”. But when COVID sent most college kids home for the second time, ending all ROTC drills and training indefinitely, Nathan had had enough. He enlisted at the local recruiting office, and less than two weeks later, the military showed up at our house to secure his signature on a five year contract.
Oh I had known for a long time that Nathan’s heart’s desire was to become a marine. “I feel it right here everytime I see a man in uniform,” he once told me pointing to his chest. I knew that this was a calling, and for the most part I tried - I really tried - to trust God’s plan and support Nathan’s dream. Still, I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. (Or maybe ever).
“When can you call us?” I said through the constriction in my throat.
“I can’t,” he said, “I can’t take my cell phone with me.”
“So how will we even know where you are?” I panicked.
“I promise I’ll write as soon as I have a return address, and I’ll call to let you know I’ve arrived at Parris Island in about two weeks.”
I began taking my cell phone to bed with me, and about two weeks later we received a phone call in the middle of the night. It was Nathan shouting in a robotic voice - a prepared script that ended with “do not attempt to contact me.” I yelled “I love you!” as the call was being disconnected, and clung to this “connection” with my son until my husband pried the phone out of my hands.
Life continued as life does, for the next four months, but Nathan was never far from our minds. Mail delivery took on a whole new meaning. I breathed a prayer for him every time I walked past his bedroom, with its full closet and dresser drawers - as if he had just disappeared in the middle of the night. Sometimes I even texted him. I knew his cell phone was disconnected and that I would get no response, but my heart ached so desperately with a need to tell him I loved him and was praying for him.
Graduation weekend finally arrived! We flew to Parris Island, South Carolina, made it through the very intense checkpoints ant the military base and took our seats with thousands of other proud family members. The bleachers surrounding a large parking lot (referred to as the “deck”) were filled with people of every color and ethnic origin waving red, white and blue flags. The excitement in the air was palpable. As the band began to play, 350 new marines marched out in tight formation. There leading his battalion, in a United States marine uniform, was my Nathan. Oh, the joy!
Psalm 30:5 “….sorrow may last for the nighttime, but joy cometh in the morning.”
This is a true story.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Other than great job. I enjoyed it.
Wonderful story, beautifully written.