IN HONOR OF VETERAN’S DAY!
This is a story that took place in the South and involved a little boy and his mom. It shows us the sad side of war and reactions that a family endures at the loss of their loved one. Get some tissues ready as you read this story of a little boy’s love of his mom and dad.
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Tommy’s Maw Maw and Pappy took Tommy to church every Sunday before his Pappy left to go to war.
Tommy had learned early in life all about God and how to pray. Every night Tommy would kneel by his bed and pray before going to sleep.
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It was the day the soldiers were to come home. Tommy and his Maw Maw dressed and went and stood at the dock waiting for his Pappy to arrive. They waited and waited… until the last boat left the dock…but Tommy’s Pappy would not be arriving this day.
When they got home Tommy was too tired to care about eating. He kissed his Maw Maw goodnight and went straight to his room. He changed into his pajamas and knelt by his bed to pray.
Lord,
It’s Tommy. We stood at the dock all day. Everyone walked away, and we just stood there. Pappy must have missed the first boat. so we waited for the next one…then the next one… until all the boats were gone. Then the tall man in the uniform said all the soldiers had gotten off; but he is wrong; ’cause Lord, Pappy didn’t get off none of those boats. I hate it when Maw Maw cries. Lord, please send Pappy home so she will stop crying. Thank you.
All week long Tommy listened as his Maw Maw cried. He heard her on the phone several times asking about why his Pappy didn’t come home like the rest of the soldiers. On the seventh night he knelt by his bed and prayed.
Lord,
It’s Tommy.
It has been a long week. Maw Maw just sits and stares out the window when she ain’t cooking and cleaning or on the phone, asking where Pappy is and why they didn’t send him home. She hasn’t hardly spoke in days other than when she is on the phone.
Mrs. Nelly Baker from down the road came by to see if Pappy had come home yet, but he hasn’t and Maw Maw began to cry again as Mrs. Nelly Baker talked to her. I heard her say, “You might have Pappy with you, Lord.” If you do, Lord, could you please tell him it is time to come home, ’cause Maw Maw and me miss him and Maw Maw cries at night and calls for him. I’d sure ‘preciate it if you would.
Slowly the days passed by, then weeks. Every day was more of the same. Tommy was worried about his Pappy and his Maw Maw. It had been a little over a month now and Pappy still hadn’t come home.
One day he walked into the living room and there his Maw Maw sat staring out the window… until a knock came upon the door. A man in a uniform stood at the door. He backed up and Maw Maw walked outside. Then his Maw Maw screamed and fell on her knees to the ground. The women in the neighborhood came running.
Tommy was confused. Why was his Maw Maw screaming and crying? Pappy was finally coming home. He felt heavy-hearted, So he went and knelt by his bed and prayed.
Lord,
It’s Tommy.
It’s been a month and three days since Maw Maw and I went to meet Pappy at the dock. Some man in a uniform just showed up at Maw Maw’s door and made her scream. He ‘pologized for making her scream and cry before he left. Mrs. Nelly Baker and some other women came running . I guess they heard Maw Maw screaming before she fell to the ground.
I don’t understand, Lord. Why is she so upset ? The man said Pappy would be coming home tomorrow with something in a pine box. Don’t know why he needs a box. I guess he lost his suitcase. I thank you, Lord, for sending Pappy home.
The next night Tommy didn’t know his Maw Maw stood silently by the door. She listened as the little boy of ten prayed through sobs.
Lord,
It’s Tommy.
I un’ stand now. My Pappy came home today. I know all about the pine box now. I guess I forgot to ask for you to send him back to Maw Maw alive. I hope she will forgive me. I thought you knew what I meant when I asked you to bring my Pappy home. But you did do what I asked. I made a mess of things. Now my Maw Maw will never be happy again. Lord, the next time I ask for something make sure I ask the right way please; and tell Pappy I am sorry I got him dead…I didn’t mean to. It’s all my fault Maw Maw is sad. I am so sorry.
Tommy opened his tear stained eyes to see his Maw Maw standing in his doorway, tears streaming down her face. “Dear child, it is not your fault,” she said through sobs and held her arms out to him. “If it had not been for your prayers, your Pappy may never had come home at all.”
- Author Unknown
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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NIV
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NIV
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 NIV
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If you have a story or testimony that you think might bless others,
I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.
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