Monica L. Murphy

CONVERSATION WITH GOD

God,

We have these conversations often, don’t we God? It’s me again talking Your ear off. My favorite ones with You are when we are alone in the car or in the early hours of the morning on the porch while I sip my hazelnut coffee.

I like it when I take the time to just listen to You. I can hear You as plain as day although some people raise their eyebrows when I say that. Like, remember that day in the car when You told me so very clearly that Joshua would be home from Iraq for Easter? I immediately told my associate pastor. He prayed with me that I would accept still another deployment extension. Joshua remembers to this day all those people coming up to him Easter morning and saying “Your mama said you would be here today”. That’s because YOU told me he would and I believed You.

I do not always understand why I am in the positions I find myself in but they seem to end up with a purpose that has to do with You. Like two weeks ago when a complete stranger turned to me and said she wanted to just die. You were there and helped me help her. I still can not comprehend what made her turn to me except that it simply had to be Your doing.

You know where my heart is, God. You know that, aside from my family, the soldiers are my adopted children. My heart breaks when I hear of millions in bonuses while those without limbs and brain injuries still fight for their benefits. You know that I will show the highest respect to any soldier because unless we have been to war, none of us have walked in their shoes.

If I could have one wish, God, that I knew would be granted, it would be that You keep Your hand on all our soldiers. Help them get the healthcare and benefits they deserve. To this day I get emails from their family members asking for help. There is no shame in admitting I have to turn to You for that help. Please, God, help our military from all walks of life and every culture to be treated with the respect and care that they deserve.