This weekend I was the on-call pastor, taking emergency calls from our people in need. I got a call Saturday from a new family in our church, trying to reach a pastor for prayer. Their son was serving in Iraq with the Marines, and his company had been attacked by enemy insurgents. His Humvee had been blown up, and he had been blown out of the top of it. The family here had been told he was MIA- missing in action. They did not know where he was, and after 14+ hours had no clue what had happened to him. The company had been attacked near a water canal, and some thought he had been blown into the water, but there was no trace of him. I took their call, and went to their house, praying with the family and spending time with them. The worry, the not-knowing, all caused a lot of fear and stress. I tried to bring as much hope & comfort as I could.
Today, they got the word that their son had been found, and he was dead. I went back over there this evening, spending more time comforting and helping any way I could. They were grieved at the news of his death, but relieved to finally know what had happened. Their soldier son was a believer in Jesus, really living his faith, and the family took great comfort in that. The days and weeks to come will be difficult, but they know God knows and feels their hurt, and will be near to them in this time. They also know they will see their son again, as we all will see the Son, never to be saddened by separation again. That brings me great hope as well.
"We do not grieve as those who have no hope..."
Rob