It's been a week since Joe died, and since then I have been sent to deliver the news to the parents of my best friend.
So here I am at the doorstep of his house, my fist trembling as it closes the space between my fist and the old wooden door. Knock, knock. Nothing. Such heaviness falls on my heart. How do I tell the mother of a deceased soldier that her only son is dead?
A pair of footsteps were heard nearing the door. A turn from the knob, and there she was with such a calm spirit...until she saw me. Joe and I were inseparable. We would always come home together.
But here I am alone because the God of my best friend decided to let him die. Mrs. Sims' eyes began tearing up as I handed her the dog tags that belonged to Joe.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Sims." That was all I could get out of my quivering lips.
She nodded and embraced me in motherly arms. I couldn't help but let the tears fall from my sore eyes.
I stayed over for a little bit just to make sure she would be okay. Joe hasn't been the only person she's lost.
She led me to her kitchen where two young boys used to run around and play army.
"We sure didn't think about what we were getting into when we signed up for the army," I said to myself, but loud enough where Mrs. Sims could hear.
She turned from what she was doing and looked at me. Tears fell down her cheeks, but these tears were different because they fell down upon a small smile.
"Do you know what the last thing Joe wrote to me was?" she asked.
I shook my head.
Her smile brightened as she dried her eyes with a tissue. She quickly went to get the letter.
When she returned she held a wrinkly, tattered piece of paper that looked weary and faded from its travel.
She let me read the letter silently until it came to the last part.
Mrs. Sims was sitting right next to me reading along with me. She caught me off guard when she told me to read the last part aloud.
My voice shook a little because I didn't know what to expect, but I read anyway.
"And lastly, mom, I have been praying for Mark. He's been having a hard time with seeing so many soldiers dying everywhere. I told him I know that if I die God will be there with me ready to take me home. He died for me, and I will die for him and his people."
I looked up from the letter and saw Mrs. Sims smile Her eyes were filled with joy.
I can't explain it, but it was as if everything clicked in my head: why God sent His son to die for me, and why Joe was ready to die for Him.
Something was tugging at my heart, and I knew it was Christ waiting for me to receive him.
"God," my heart cried, "forgive me for my sins. Thank You for sacrificing Your only Son for me. I want to live for You even if it means dying for You. Let me be a light to my fellow soldiers. In Your Son's name, amen."
My heart seemed relieved of its burden. I am redeemed.
