Reintegration Tip #3 Try Some Vitameatavegamin. It’s good for you.

My favorite episode of "I Love Lucy" was the one with Vitameatavegamin.  It was the cure all for everything.  Just think if you went to the doctor and found out you were pregnant.  The doctor says, "Don’t worry, I have just the thing.  Vitameatavegimin."  Then later you go to the doctor with a broken arm, "Don’t worry, I have just the thing.  Vitameatavegimin."  Awhile late you get the flu, "Don’t worry, I have just the thing.  Vitameatavegimin."  It won’t be long and you will be looking for a new doctor.  The answers he gives are to easy, to prescribed, to casebook.

There is all kinds of loss in life.  The loss of expectation.  The loss of relationship.  Time. Everything in life can be evaluated in terms of loss.  After twenty years of listening to stories of loss I  can say with assurance I have learned one thing for sure.  All loss is unique.  Each person brings a unique recipe to loss.  So, two people who have the same type of loss experience it completely different.  You can not go to the medicine cabinet and get your Vitameatavegamin out and apply it to every wound and injury.

Soldiers, and those who love them are unique too.  You can not go to your standard, prescribed, easy to follow instruction book on how to help a soldier.  The soldier and the environment of war is to dynamic to classify.  There is no recipe to follow.  One soldier saw constant change in his environment, and his personality.  Yet, another guarded a two acre RRP in the middle of nowhere and the only change he saw was the passing of time.  There is no recipe.  So, here is how you can help soldiers…

God gave you two ears and one mouth in the hopes that you would do the math.  Listen before you prescribe.  Listen long, listen hard, listen till your ears hurt, listen until you are trusted.  On the Mount of Transfiguration the Apostle Peter wouldn’t keep his big mouth shut and finally God said, "This is my beloved son, listen to him."  America is about to receive four thousand of it’s beloved sons and daughters home again.  Many more to come and many have gone before us.  I wonder if it has the patience to listen? 

Comments

[Judy Schletty]

I remember I didn't wait for a soldier whom I was kind of, sort of, going with when he was in Vietnam. But even if I had waited for him, don't think it would have worked. Too many differences between us.
If any of our soldiers experience a loss in a relationship while they've been gone, maybe it is just as well. Allow yourself time to grieve though. Sometimes, however, with a little forgiveness, relationships are restored. I will say special prayers for all our soldiers who are experiencing difficulties in their relationships due to their military service overseas. A depressive reaction due to a loss is a terrible disease. Like thick, day old black coffee, burnt out and scummy.

Peace, love, and prayers from us all. Stay strong!

Judy and Chap. Todd's Uncle Randy

[David M]

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 06/23/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention updated throughout the day…so check back often. This is a weekend edition so updates are as time and family permits.

[David]

Wise words for all of us who will be welcoming home those who have served in Iraq and elsewhere. I pray that we my be the listening ears that Christ calls us to be, so that we can faithfully serve those who have served so many.

Thanks for this post!