Submitted by Laura Firtko, Fort Carson, CO
Today I sense some enemy action. What do I mean by that? It appears that Satan is trying to get me all spun up and anxious before PWOC tomorrow. This morning my ID card decided to jump out of my purse, apparently. You know how it is as a military spouse — ya ain’t got no identity without that little piece of laminated personal info.
In the military it goes like this: No ID card, no identity; No ID card, no getting on post (not easily anyway); no ID card, no commissary; no ID card, no medical appointments; no ID card, you might as well have been vaporized!
This is what happened: I paid a visit to the ever-so-available, and desperately needed Air Force Academy Fitness Center; dropped my ID card into my purse; went to brush my teeth (don’t ask); put my gym bag and purse in a locker; locked the locker securely; and went about my workout. It wasn’t until I finished showering and returned home that I discovered my LIFE was missing!
Now, it is highly unusual for me to lose much of anything, especially my precious government issued uniformed services ID and privilege card. Thank the Father that Jesus recognizes me. Without Him, I’d be nothin’ and I’d get nowhere!
Here comes the prayer: Okay, Lord, I do believe that this is happening for a reason because everything you do in my life has purpose and value. So, show me what you want me to learn from this, and while you’re at it, would you mind having someone turn in my ID at the AFA Fitness Center desk. Thank you so much. Oh, today would be good, you see, I have to get on post early tomorrow to set up for hospitality, AND instead of being in the sanctuary as usual, we have to be flexible and do it all in the fellowship hall, which means I have to have it set up before we start or shortly thereafter, and the gal who is normally there to work with me is on leave … Okay, okay. I really don’t have anything to complain about. My heart is beating, I feel pretty good, I got home safely in our first snow of the year … (yes, women of PWOC, it’s September 21 and it has snowed heavily in parts of Colorado Springs, CO. This is the earliest snow I’ve ever seen). Slip slidin’ away … not really. Just tell me to get back to the story.
Knowing God the way I do, I’m certain that something good will come out of what feels like a total disaster. Oh yeah, Father, please protect me from identity theft. Right now my identity is only missing. I certainly don’t want it stolen and used by someone else. This is serious. Please send a wonderful, honest person to retrieve my existence on this earth and turn it in at the AFA Fitness Center desk. Amen.
Oh, I’m not done yet. This episode is still fresh and I’ve learned so much already. What have I learned? That even when the U.S. Government doesn’t acknowledge my existence, Jesus Christ does. Not only that … He rejoices over my existence and considers me to be of inestimable worth and value. Be encouraged, women! Even when fellow humans don’t acknowledge you as the special, one-of-a-kind creation you are, God the Father regards you as the apple of His eye. His unconditional love and acceptance are immeasurable, and they are worth much more than earthly recognition. Yes, even the recognition that comes with a military ID card.
