I am not a soldier, but my sister and her husband both are. Her and I often had discussions as to why she and her husband do what they do, and her response is always, "Somebody's gotta do it." I always ask her, "Well, why you? You have children, a husband, a family to live for. What if something happens to you?" She tells me, "It's all in the hands of the Almighty."
I am a Christian woman, but her response would always, in some sense, anger me. I felt she was being irresponsible and selfish. She was putting her family through an unnecessary trauma, and for what? Her being in the military is unfair and unrealistic. It brings pain, heartache, and in some circumstances, death.
My sister called me today with news that I have always dreaded. Although it wasn't the worst, it still hit me hard. Her one year boy was taking a nap in my room, and her two year old boy was playing with my two year boy in their room. My three year old daughter was sitting on the couch watching Spongebob with my oldest brother. She told me, "The vehicle that I was in with three others was hit by a roadside bomb. My heart sank and I immediately felt the tears welling up in my eyes.
The first thought went immediately to the two precious little babies that she left in my care. I asked her if she was okay, and she said that she was as well as the other soldiers who were in the vehicle. She lost everything that she had in the vehicle, along with the photos of her children that she carried around with her everywhere. Her husband was horribly torn up when he realized that the vehicle that he heard was hit was the vehicle that his wife was in. Their reunion was bittersweet, holding each other as though it were their last chance.
To be honest, I did not know whether to be angry at her for making this decision, or grateful to God for keeping her alive. Neither she, or anyone person in that vehicle were harmed, although this is very uncommon. I cannot say that it was because the hand of God was protecting her because I believe that God is with every soldier who is fighting in Iraq, but what I can say is that I believe that God will bring my sister and her husband both home to their babies.
My sister had called me shortly after the incident, and although she was shaken by it, it did not change her mind. She truly believes in what she is doing and it was her and her husbands choice to go. Although, at times I do not agree with their decisions, I will always respect what it is they are doing. God forbid that if anything should ever happen and we lose either one of them, there will be no blame placed on anyone, and they will die and be buried with honor and integrity.