May 12th is the official day we honor the spouses of those serving in our military. For these spouses, life goes on while their soldier is away. Children still need to be fed, diapers changed. There are school graduations to attend, and teens aching to have a parent teach them to drive. Military families may not visibly serve on the front line of our forces, but they are there⎯in the hearts and minds of our troops.
Thankfully, there are a number of ways we can honor and inspire military families. Below are three practical ways to get us started. But we know the first and most effective way is to pray for them. Not sure where to begin?
Edie Melson wrote a fabulous series of prayer books on this subject:
- While My Soldier Serves: Prayers for Those With Loved Ones in the Military
- The accompanying prayer journal, While My Soldier Serves
- While My Child is Away: My Prayers for When We Are Apart.
THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP US TO HONOR AND INSPIRE MILITARY FAMILIES
Blue Star Families – this organization, founded in 2009, began with a group of military wives around a dinner table. Now, with 150,000 members their programs and services reach out to more than 1.5 million military families each year.
How you can inspire a military family through Blue Star Families:
- Volunteer (locally or virtually)
- Partner with corporate and non-profit organizations
- Give through charitable donations, donate services, and products, etc.
National Military Family Association – NMFA serves members, their spouses, and their children. They are a member of the Defense Department’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership.
How you can inspire a military family through the National Military Family Association:
Soldier’s Angels – this organization supports our troops and their families in a variety of ways. They mail millions of cards, feed thousands of veterans, and send hundreds of care packages to deployed soldiers.
How you can inspire a military family through Soldier’s Angels:
- Volunteer (they encourage children to get involved with some of these opportunities)
- Host a fundraiser
- Become a Team Angel
Thank you to those who sacrificially serve so that we might enjoy freedom to its fullest.
God bless America!
