HUG a Military Family ... TODAY!

Hi Friends,

This will be short, but I want to share how convicted I feel.

In the past I've taken it for granted when hearing about military families getting transferred by Uncle Sam. Yes, I've thought it must be hard ... and what an adjustment it must be for the kids to change schools etc. But since my personality has always loved change and new opportunities, I haven't paid much attention to the possible hardship of it all. Yet many, if not most, of our career military go through incredible change and hardship multiple times in the life of their growing families. 

Why am I saying this now? Well, this is the first time my husband and I have walked out a military move with our daughter, son-in-law, and their four adorable children, one of which is a 2 year old and another, a newborn. And our oldest grandson is just going into middle school, not an easy time of life to disconnect from childhood friends and try to break into a new context.

On top of the personal adjustments of new friends, church, shopping, geography and climate, and possibly language and culture (yes, even in the U.S.), there are the details of the move, sale of property, detail after detail after detail. Many go through nightmares in getting their furniture and personal items to the next base. Movers lose and damage things and get delayed. And then there is often separation of family members from one another for a time...sometimes a long time.

I could go on and on, but we can all use our imagination.

But here is what I want to suggest (to myself as well):

Hug a military family: thank them for their sacrifice; offer to help while they move; baby sit; buy their chai tea latte at Starbucks or pay their bill at a restaurant; bring them food; welcome them into your church, your school, your neighborhood, and PRAY for them.

God loves the "stranger and the alien" and that's what they must feel at times.

Amen ... and thanks for reading and caring for the military family in your life.