When a Solider Comes Home…..

War although needed to stop Oppression and Dictatorship leaves wounds in the hearts of the families who longed for their Loved one to return but they didn’t and also for some Soldiers who did return but were wounded emotionally by what they experienced.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affecting battle-scarred Soldiers, in military combat is the most common cause in men, fifty-eight percent of combat Veterans may experience this, usually through nightmares and/or flashbacks. If these occur for more than three months it is considered chronic. I will leave a link for you which gives more information and help links if needed. I have also Posted a Video below about some of those Soldiers who experienced the impact of PTSD sharing how they felt when they came home.

PTSD – http://www.helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm

When my oldest brother Frank came home from serving in Vietnam, he was hardened and also weakened, although he didn’t experience the full symptoms of PTSD he did use alcohol to dull the horror that he had witnessed and had  been part of and it was many months before he responded positively to being back home. But I have known others who suffered many years unable to put behind them the trauma they encountered defending our Countries.

We need to remember all those Soldiers who are hurting from the effects of PTSD with Love and Compassion, the horror they were part of was for you and me and so is the pain they are experiencing now.

Below is a few thoughts from a Soldier about how he felt towards everyday life happenings after coming home from combat .

When A Soldier Comes Home

When a soldier comes home, he finds it hard…

…To Listen to his son whine about being bored.

…To keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.

…To be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of
getting ready for work.

…To be understanding when a co-worker complains about a
bad night’s sleep.

… To be silent when people pray to God for a new car.

…To control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.

…To be compassionate when a businessman expresses
a fear of flying.

…To keep from laughing when anxious Parents say they’re afraid
to send their kids off to Summer Camp.

…To feel concerned when someone complains about hot weather in their Air-conditioned home.

…To control his frustration when a colleague gripes
about his coffee being cold.

…To remain calm when his daughter complains about having
to walk the dog.

…To be civil to people who complain about their jobs.

…To just walk away when someone says they only get
two weeks of vacation a year.

…To be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a
new baby in the house.

The only thing harder than being a Soldier…

Is for us to see them through the eyes of Love and accept the reality they have experienced for us…To do this fully we need God’s Love that is always patient, always compassionate and never ends.