And so I begin with a hard piece to share. ‘Joey . 11. 11. 13’ was published on the Stewardship blog on http://www.stewardship.org.uk/smartweb/blog/blog/post/221 Rememberance day in the UK. Emotional to write, Daniel Jones at Stewardship helped me edit the version you see here below and at the Stewardship link. Beneath it is the original piece he edited. Different title, ‘prayerful remembrances.’Daniel did a sensitive job, a thought filled collobration, a close reading of writing.
Please comment on both pieces and how they read as a unit and as individual works. Don’t worry about what you say or think. It is only a draft, and therefore only the greatest import, that of words as action.

Joey. 11.11.13

My son passed away on a military base in 1996. He was 22.

It was a car accident, early in the morning at 5am, just as he was called up for formation.

We got the call early. He probably was rushing; driving too fast. He always drove too fast. It was Mother’s Day weekend; a beautiful spring day.

In the United States, when a member of the military passes away, two serving officers are dispatched to tell the soldier’s family the news in person – that same day. We had already had the phone call. But I said that already, didn’t I?

They come to your home to tell you; to stand with you in your shock, and then your grief.

They arrive in full uniform, official looking, straight and to the point, viewers into your eyes. Sorry for your loss is their opening words. The rest blurs.

They stand stiff, straight like wooden boards in their well pressed uniforms. They come because they want you to know: we remember you at this time.

Seventeen years have passed and I still get teary about that visit.

These two officers did not know Joey (though we would meet his soldier friends later). They were sent as symbols, remembrances being mindful of us, our now broken family, remembering us.

And what is etched most in my memory about their visit?

It was, and still is, their presence. They didn’t have to say anything.

They were there.

Fully present.

There.

I needed those two service people that day. Their youth reminded me of what was lost. Their commitment and purpose reminds me of why Joey was serving. Remembrances.

My tears, our sorrows, were not missed or forgotten.

Remember.

Today and in the days to come, stand with our soldiers, someone’s son and daughter. Stand with their families, those who still have and those who have lost.

Pray for them. Speak to God for them. He hears your prayers, and somehow our prayers work with His will. Don’t ask how; I don’t know. I do know He remembers. He doesn’t forget a one. He remembered us that day.

Remember with Him in prayer.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good who have been called according to his purpose.

prayerful remembrances, 11 November 2013My son passed away on a military base in 1996. He was 22. It was a motorised accident that occurred at 5am when he was called up for formation. We got the call early. He probably was rushing; driving too fast. He always drove too fast. It was Mother’s Day weekend. A beautiful spring day.
In the States, when a member of the military passes away, they send two service officers in military uniforms to tell the family the news in person. They come the same day you get the news. We already had the phone call. But I said that already, didn’t I?

They come to your home to tell you, to stand with you. They stand stiff and straight as wooden broads in their well pressed uniforms. They come because they want you to know: we remember you at this time. Seventeen years passed and I still get teary about their visit. They did not know Joey. We would meet his fellow soldiers later. They were sent as symbols, remembrances being mindful of me, remembering me. My tears, our sorrows, were not missed or forgotten.

They are in full uniform; official; to the point; straight on; viewers into your eyes: Sorry for your lost is their opening words. The rest blurs.

What do I recall? It was and is their presences, their physical beings I remembered. They didn’t have to say anything; they were there. Fully present; there.

I needed those two service people that day. Their youth reminded me of what was lost. Their commitment and purpose reminds me of why Joey was serving. Remembrances.

Stand with our soldiers, someone’s son and daughter, today and the coming days. How should you speak to, for them? Pray for them. Speak to God for them. The first thing, everyday from now till Remembrance Sunday 9 November 2014. Then do it again till Remembrance Sunday 8 November 2015. God hears prayers, and somehow our prayers works with His will. Don’t ask how; I don’t know. I do know He remembers. He doesn’t forget a one. Remember with Him in prayer.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good who have been called according to his purpose.

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/how-to-give/?gclid=CNOZ_5b01LoCFafMtAodS1AAkA