MrNader

Thank You Mr. Nader by Leslie Bray

My family boarded the small 757 headed across the country to Eugene, Oregon. As I was preparing for this
long and potentially brutal day with a nine month old and little flexibility for time delays, my mind was racing
with the array of possibilities – delayed flights; long waits on the runway; a confined, middle seat on the
second leg; an irritable and uncontrollable child. As I sat down, the person sitting across from us caught my
attention. He was a member of our United States Military… specifically the Army.

Immediately, everything else left my mind and I began to ponder what he was feeling, what he was thinking,
where he had been and where he was going. I sat there trying to figure out how I could start a
conversation… all I could think was, “I can’t leave this flight without saying ‘thanks’ and offer up prayer for
him and his family.” He was one of my heroes and obviously did not even realize this fact. His name was
Nader. I had the privilege of exchanging a few words with him during the short flight. He had just spent the
last three months in Fort Hood (if I recall), was headed to Corvallis to see his dad and then would be off to
Iraq in September. I responded with “uh, I’m so sorry.” His response, to my surprise,
was “Oh no, it’s fine….”

This brave fighter is preparing to enter combat for my freedom, my safety and the lives of my family
members. He assumed that duty with pride and confidence, all the while I was crying inside because his own
safety would be at risk. I always have these intense feelings toward service men and women, for all they
sacrifice for me; but I physically do nothing to offer them support. So this article is to serve as my own
encouragement and also as encouragement to all who read this, that we as Christians of this country should
support, reach out to and do whatever we can to love these men and women and their families. Hebrews 10:
36 sums up one of the many qualities that these brave souls possess, “You need to persevere so that when
you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” Mr. Nader, this courageous soldier
who daily puts my life in front of his own, possesses more perseverance than I could ever imagine.

I do not have a family member currently serving in our armed forces, so I will not attempt to understand the
constant fear and struggle with regard to the unknown. Each of these soldiers has faith that their “battle” is
for a meaningful cause. II Corinthians 5:7 states, “We live by faith, not by sight.” Do we as children of God,
exert this type of faith in our daily? Do we fight the battle every day and put His will before our own?

After reading this article, I strongly encourage you to reach out to the soldiers and their families, thank them
for their insurmountable courage and pray for their safety. Support them, honor them and love their family
members. My hope is that each of us takes some time this very week to say “thanks.”

Jesus Christ sacrificed his life and experienced the most brutal, hostile death for all who have and will walk
the face of this earth. We try to wrap our arms around that every day of our lives and still cannot
comprehend such a sacrificial act of love. Mr. Nader and the many other men and women across the world
put their lives in harms-way each day so that we can attend church without persecution, choose our careers
and raise a family according to our own choosing. Thank you Mr. Nader, thank you to all of those who have
perished in times of war and fighting, thank you to those who are still fighting for our freedoms, and thank
you to the families who love and support them!

These are not exhaustive, but here are some web sites that can help direct your efforts and support to our
troops:
www.welcomebackveterans.org
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil
www.troopssupport.com
www.websitesforheroes.org

Leslie Bray is currently Athletic Relations Coordinator at the University of Kentucky. She was born and raised in southcentral Kentucky.