The Lord was looking down on me when I had my deployment meltdown on August 9, 2010. It was an accumulation of months of stress and two accidents that I had no control over. My husband had been deployed for almost eighteen months and was due home in nineteen days. I was so excited about his return that I never expected to be overwhelmed by my emotions.
A couple of days earlier I got into an accident in my husband’s car. It wasn’t a serious accident, I actually hit a rock. I was at a park I had visited many times and I never saw the rock coming. The rock was two feet tall and heavy enough to carve itself into the side of the door. This was the first time I ever had a car accident with a rock. Thankfully, my husband took the news in stride and reminded me to be more careful. I took this accident as a sign that I needed to slow down.
The second accident happened when a tree fell on the power lines. The tree fell down in the middle of a bright sunny day. We had no power for most of the day. I took my son out to dinner and put him to bed. I realized the house was engulfed in darkness. For a moment, I felt completely powerless. I couldn’t use the oven, washer, air conditioning, internet, and TV. I used my cell phone to call my family and broke down in tears. I had my first deployment meltdown. I was strong for almost all of my husband’s deployment except for that moment.
After I was finished talking to my family, I sat in the dark. I thought about my next step. I wondered if I should plan a vacation before my husband’s homecoming. I prayed for guidance from the Lord. I prayed for strength, because I had never felt so weak before in my life. Everything seemed to be out of my control. I knew the Lord had a plan for me but I needed some clarity. Moments after I finished my prayers, the lights came on. I was relieved to have our power back. The light of my faith had been turned on.
I know the Lord will give me the strength to survive the next nineteen days. It will be wonderful to be reunited with my other half. I know we have both grown in our faith and love for our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are reminded of the Lord’s strength in scripture, Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Halleluiah!
God Bless!
Elizabeth Ornelas
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That's the thing about meltdowns! They typically sneak up on you when you least expect it. Sometimes over the smallest things. I feel your pain! I'm glad that the car accident wasn't something major. God bless your reunion with your husband!
Ralene
I'm so glad you will get to be with your husband again. I hope that the time goes quickly. What I've been reminded of during this deployment is that I need to trust in God and rely on Him. I've also learned to "praise him in this storm." We all know it's easy to thank God during the good times in life (weddings,births, good news etc) but it is essential that we praise him during the hard times too. I know that whenever I get lost in my emotions and stuck in my sadness when I turn to God and praise him for his blessings I start to see things differently. For example, I have just recently moved across country with 2 young children and there was an issue every step of the way. I prayed ALOT and cried ALOT and talked a lot about how I don't handle stress well. I talked about how my husband handled things so much better than me and I wished that I was more like him in that respect. I soon came to realize that I was handling those stressful situations. I believe God was showing me that I am strong enough. In retrospect, all of that stress,those tears and frustration gave me something fantastic. More confidence and a closer relationship with God.
Megan
Im so happy to hear that in times of struggle we know to turn to our Lord! Meltdowns are the worst i agree especially when you feel so powerless and weak its like you have nobody nothing but yourself but as long as you know no matter where you go and no matter the bologna you have to deal with in life the Lord never leaves your side thru our deployments thru everything good and bad the Lord is right there with us!I hope that you and your husband enjoy eachother make the best of it and stay strong in the Lord. God bless you.
Tasha
I am encouraged to read fellow wives in the same journey as I am. Last week the loneliness overcame me. We are 10 months into a one year deployment. I quickly began to chastise myself for being so weak.Other military wives I know with bigger challenges always seem to be so in control. God bless my neighbor. She reminded me that there is no condemnation in Christ. She encouraged me by telling me, that God made me just the way He wanted for such a time as this. I would encourage wives don't feel like you have to appear to be the pillar of strength all the time. Be vulnerable to God and your friends and let them hold you for that moment. I praise God for his wisdom and love.
Sue Air Force wife