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Putting My Son In The Hands Of The LORD

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Putting My Son In The Hands Of The Lord My story begins in Nov. 2003. It all started with a phone call. My son has been in the service since he turned 18. And every day, I am a Mother, a typical Mother that cries and dies every time the phone rings. Not knowing what was happening, not even wanting to think about who was on the other end of the line, and why they might be calling. This had been going on since the war in Iraq had started. The phone call came in the evening, my son was there on the other end of the phone and right away I knew something was wrong. “Mom” he said, I said yes. Well Mom, I don’t want you to worry, but I have to go to the sand box. “Yes” I said, my voice cracking as the tears welled up in my eyes and a lump caught in my throat. I don’t remember much of that conversation, I just remember the “don’t worry Mom” I’ll be fine. When are you leaving I stammered? A date was given and it seemed like he said tomorrow, but I know that wasn’t it. I had no money to fly out there to see him, all I had was the phone and memories of how he looked the last time I had seen him, I hated this, I thought of all the different ways I could stop him, after all he was an only son and with his father and I being divorced, he was all I had. I told him this and he, the man that he is said “Mom I want to go, and anyway you have three grandchildren now. “ All I could think of was, it’s not the same. My heart cried for his wife, my Dear sweet Gena, my heart cried for his children, my heart cried for me. I had been through this once already, and I didn’t think I could do it again. I thought of his wife and children, and I tried to be strong for him. They were to leave the first of Nov. He wouldn’t be home for the Holidays. From Nov. to June we didn’t get much info. In June a reporter from the Trib. Joined the Stryker unit, and then we started getting daily updates on the brigade. What a blessing. I don’t know about my daughter-in-law but it put me right there with him. I know that she had her hands full taking care of my grand children and also a point of contact if there were problems with the wives in the unit. F.R.G. my son says. Although she and I talked often, we really didn’t know what to say for fear of upsetting the other. When my son left this time, I was a basket case and every time the t.v. said something about the Stryker Unit, I jumped. My nerves were shot. A church group formed a group for mothers and families with sons and daughters serving in Iraq. I went and talked to the minister. We put my son in the hands of the LORD that day. In fact I prayed from that day forward for all our young men and women serving over there and all over the world. I believe that when we give GOD all that is ours, and believe that something good will come of that prayer it will. GOD had given me the gift I had wanted, my Son, so I gave him back to GOD, and I knew that in His infinite wisdom, HE would watch over him for me and bring him home safely to me, and his family. We also were given an Angel lamp with a small white light that was prayed over and it’s light is lit 24 hours a day till all of our young men and women come home. On December 13, just weeks after entering Iraq, 5 young men had toured the city of Samarra, after several hours they headed for recon. area, when passing a building they heard an explosion, and felt the compression, or bomb go off right under the center front of the Stryker. One of the young men said it was the loudest explosion he had ever heard. The Stryker jolted and smoke and dust flared up around them. They had no idea what had hit them or where. The men started shooting at anything that moved. One young man was injured and they pulled him to safety. The Stryker went up in smoke and flames. Those young men on that day lost every thing they owned, except for their lives Inside the Stryker was there lives, photo’s, snacks, games, writing material, personal items, cameras, ect. They tried to us a fire extinguisher, but it was to late. My son said that they had lost all the reminders of home. The phone rang and a very teary voice came over the phone. "Mom it’s Gena". What’s up honey? I said. It was then, in a soft shaky voice I heard “I just got a phone call from Michael", he’s ok. "What happened"? I said, as my knees became like jello, and my heart began to race. She told me what she knew and told me that Michael would be calling me. This Mother fell to her knees, crying, and thanking GOD. My Sweet JESUS saved those young men that day. I for one believe this with all my heart. My son is getting out of the Army in May after 22 years in the service, I am very proud of him. And I thank GOD for him. I am a Mother of one, but I have a love for many out there, and prayers for them all. @ K.L. Farnum Picture #1 My Son In Stryker just days before bomb. Picture #2 Stryker after fire, what was left.