About the Author

Kristen Strong, author of Back Roads to Belonging and Girl Meets Change, writes as a friend offering meaningful encouragement for each season of life so you can see it with hope instead of worry. She and her US Air Force veteran husband, David, have three children and live in Colorado...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Comments

  1. Praying for our service members safe return and the peace of God that surpasses understanding guarding their families hearts.

  2. Kristen,,
    I have said it before, but I am so praying for all the military spouses and families who are left behind to hold down the fort while their soldiers are serving. YOU are a sacrificial backbone of our great Nation and a key reason why we enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy. Praying for those who serve, past and present, and those who sacrifice so that their soldiers can serve. We owe you a debt of gratitude. With heartfelt thanks…
    Blessings and ((hugs)),
    Bev

  3. Are you still sending care packages to the family members? It shows that you have already reached your goal, so I’m not sure if this is on going. My husband is no longer in the service, but he served through several deployments and something like that care package would have meant the world to me! I would love to support it!

    • Karen, thank you so much! Hmmm…for me, the Pure Charity fundraiser page is showing it is still wide open. Would love to know what is showing on the screens for other folks?

  4. My thoughts and prayers are with our military families, and especially with our Gold Star families today. Much love to you, Kristen. Thank you for your beautiful heart.
    Thinking of my man (Scott) currently deployed and my son (Zack) who leaves on his first deployment soon.

    • Beth, one of my tightest hugs is reserved just for you, friend.

      Praying for your Scott and Zack today as well as our Gold Star families. So much love from my Rocky mountain home to you… xo

  5. Our family is so thankful for the privilege of serving. Through 4 deployments, and every other day in between, God shows his goodness and grace as we trust Him.
    Brian.

  6. Could not be more proud to know you. Love you and wishing you an early happy Birthday friend and spreading the word about this amazing project far and wide!!

  7. Thank you, my dear friend. Thank you for reminding us that freedom is not free – until those words are not words then the understanding is never fully realized.

  8. Please pray for my neighbor’s grandson who has severe PTSD from being overseas with the Army and he needs some really excellent care now back in KY and he needs the assistance from his commanding officer from the Army.

  9. Thank you, Kristen, for sharing that story about Maureen, highlighting that we enjoy many freedoms we’re not even aware of. My level of appreciation just rose considerably as a result of reading about her.

    God bless and protect our soldiers and their families. They sacrifice so much!

    Please pray for David.

  10. My husband Jason
    Thank you for this post! I needed to read it today as I was feeling alone and forgotten and having a bit of a pity party 🙂 God is so good!

    • You are seen, Karen, and so loved by many, especially the God of the heavens Who takes infinite delight in you and loves you like crazy.

      The (in)courage community is so thankful for you and *all* you do.

      We pray on for Jason…so much love.

  11. Seth, Chuck, Tom, Travis who are all currently serving. Also praying for the families who are waiting & praying for their safe return.

  12. Timothy

    And thank you for this lovely post — we have been an active duty Army family for close to 25 years. It is our privilege and honor.

  13. My son Tyler and his wife Kelley.
    Thank you for this beautiful tribute to our wonderful military and the families that support them!! 🙂

    • Kim, I’m praying for Brandon now. I have 2 sons and 4 daughters. My husband serves in the AF. I am so very grateful for your son’s service – and for your faithful mother heart. Blessings to you.

  14. Beautiful <3 My dad is military (National Guard/Department of Defense), and my husband, Adam, is too (full-time Guard) – they do sacrifice a lot, as do we who end up (temporarily – we pray!) single moms when they're gone on deployments. Thanks so much for this post!

  15. My oldest son Micah is a Marine. He left the week after high school graduation. He has wanted this since 9/11/2001 and he has definately achieved several things on his “bucekt list” so far!! I have always been proud of our militarty and love the chance to thank them for their service when I know they are current serving or veterans. I think my militarty radar has really peaked since my son is now serving!.
    Prayers out to ALL currently serving and veteran military, and for those families that their son or daughter or husband or wife, lost their life while serving our great country so that we may keep our freedoms!!! Also for our wounded that have to go on living after their service, give them the physical and mental strength and perserverence to keep on going! Also and certainly not last, I would lift up the Moma’s, especially! But certainly the Father’s, Wives and Husbands, Brothers (my sons biggest fan is his 11 year old brother!!!) and Sisters, Girl Friends and Boy Frinds! Please help us to be patient and understanding!!!! And please help this Country to not only give lipservice, pararades, and fly flags, but to truely honor and take care of the ones that volunteer, and would be willing to give their lives so that not only the United States but that other country’s might have and understand LIBERTY!! In Jesus name I pray.

  16. My son, PFC Colby Doiga is bravely serving as a combat medic now with the 82nd Airborne, 1-508th PIR in Afghanistan. We love and miss him, but are confident he is in the center of God’s will. #armystrong

    • I’m praying for your brother Ryan, Chelsea. My brother and husband serve, too. I’ve been praying for them for years. An honor to include your brother in my prayers.

  17. Thank you to all who serve or support someone who serves. God bless you and keep you!

  18. My husband, Nick, is currently home and doesn’t have any deployments on the horizon, pray God

  19. Kristen,
    Thank you for this great tribute to all those who serve in the military and their families! I have 2 stepsons in the army, so I am a little more aware of the sacrifices and hard work of not only them, but also their wives and children. As you are a military wife too, God bless you. Our church sends care packages to those in the military, but I will definitely check out the charity that sends care packages to the spouses, too. Thanks,
    –Janet

  20. Thanks beyond measure to those who served, gave their life, and those currently serving out Country! You are why we have our precious Freedom, May God Bless you and your families.

  21. I am so proud and thankful to have 4 generations of military service in my family…my grandfather, father, brother all have served, and I currently have two nephews serving right now, I have seen the sacrifices that others have made on my behalf, and I appreciate them so much! I have lived the life of a military kid. I know that it was God’s grace and the prayers of others that sustained us as we traveled all over the world…never putting down roots…being away from family and friends…sometimes even being away from my Dad. Thank you for shedding a light on why we have this holiday, and for reminding us all to pray for those in service, and for their families…and to never forget the fallen or THEIR families. Freedom really isn’t free. Proud to be an American.

  22. Dear God I pray I never forget our service members and their families. Bring them safely home grant the families strength and grace during deployments and for families of the fallen or missing comfort them during their times of loss and sorrow. Amen.

  23. Kristen, have the happiest of birthdays tomorrow. And thank you for this post and this project. Lifting every name in every one of these comments up in prayer right now. Love you, friend.

  24. Happy belated birthday Kristen!

    Thank you for all you and others do for our service men and women! The people-wives, husbands, children-who stay home while their family member is off fighting for freedom are doing a tremendous job of sacrificing their own freedoms.

    I want to pray for ALL military people everywhere. May God give them the ability to do their job and come home to their families safe and sound. To those who have lost loved ones in battle–THANK YOU for the ultimate sacrifice!

  25. Dean, a Vietnam Marine vet. and Jonathon and his wife serving in the Army. To the WWII Vets whose health is failing and their families, especially their spouses. My heart and prayers lift to God with thanksgiving and prayer for courage and strength. May the promise of Joshua 1:9 be with all who serve and their families.

  26. Thank you for this. Your posts always hit close to home for me. You’re much appreciated, Kristen! I was missing family and friends so much tonight, so this was some much needed encouragement.

    My husband, Andrew.

  27. Husband and BIL

    I wrote a blog post called “The Cost of War-3 easy steps to help our nation heal and 2 that require commitment”. I would love it if you checked it out. Thank you for the beautiful post you shared.

  28. LCpl Taylor E. Marvin
    VMA 542, MCAS Cherry Point, NC

    My son is serving in the Marine Corps and even though I have (mostly) adjusted, there are times when I truly miss him present within our family. Reading this blog was hard because there are sacrifices for military families, even if your family member isn’t serving overseas, they are usually not close either. I miss my son today so please lift him up in your prayers.

  29. Husband jose, bil jeremy, brother Dennis (vet) sil laura (vet) fil jose (vet)