December 6, 2008.
Will leaves one week from today for his second deployment. I choose to look at this as just a speed bump in the road for us. Will may be able to email me every day and hopefully, won’t be gone more than sixteen months. The bottom line is that the deployment is Will’s job and God’s will. How can I argue with that?
Will has an amazing opportunity to minister to soldiers who desperately need him. Since he was called to the ministry in the fall of 2003, he has been waiting for this moment. As a wife, few things are better than to watch your husband fulfilling God’s purpose for his life. He can’t wait to get his boots in the sand and start his mission.
With that said, looking forward to deploying does not mean Will is looking forward to leaving us. He has said many times how much he is dreading our final goodbyes. As most of you know, he and Carlee Scott are the best of buds. It stings his heart when he realizes that she’ll be almost four and a half-years old when he returns home. To think that Owen will be over two years old and walking and talking just baffles him.
I could not be prouder of him as a father, as a soldier, and as a servant of God. But while I may be happy for him, no wife ever wants her husband to leave for over a year. Knowing that I will be raising two small children alone while carrying (and delivering) a third is overwhelming. Even today, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it. But I’m going to try. This is the road that has been chosen for me, and I will travel it proudly.
Although I will have many fearful moments, I can’t reside in fear. I won’t be ignorant and think something can’t happen, but instead I will recognize it, pray for safety and peace, and move on. I will not allow the enemy to hold me captive in fear.
Lord, help me travel well the road you have set before me.
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)