Today’s Prayer

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 2 Cor:8-10

Prayer for Soldiers Suffering Post Traumatic Stress

we are soldiers, Lord

survivors of a war we never thought we’d survive

surrounded daily by death and violence

submerged in anger and hatred

running always toward danger

for the sake of our brothers

known and unknown

living in hostility

for months each stood on the edge of life

watching this one or that one die

by the most horrible means

some surviving

scarred beyond recognition

now, we are home

returned damaged,

nearly destroyed

to our families

often unable to cope with the silence

unwilling to let go of the madness of war

no one but our brothers understands us

and so many of our brothers are lost

defined by the violence that nearly destroyed us

guilty of the crime of survival

haunted by the memories of destruction

each volunteered to defend those oppressed by evil

just in our cause

but so consumed were we by war

that we cannot,

will not,

end the fight

You, Lord, know our pain

You who watched over us

You, who we cried out to for safety,

who we questioned

asking why we were chosen for this task

please, Lord,

give us the peace that we seek

ease the pain of memory

make our brothers whole

if not in body, then in mind and spirit

give those around us an understanding heart

and the patience to help us heal

Lord,

hold our brothers close to You

use us to comfort them,

calm them

help us to return them to the sanity of home

and country

use us as an example

as to why we should study war no more

Amen

Copyright 2022 by Jose Antonio Ponce