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