Encouragement

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The Guardian Angel
© 2011

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Sergeant (E-5) Jeremy Gott and his squad arrived at their compound after an all night patrol in a Baghdad district hungry and exhausted. It was the fourth night in 7 days that his squad had patrol duty. The next time they would have patrol, they were told, would not be for a month unless there was a serious attack from foreign fighters. Sergeant Gott had worked so hard and long that he had little opportunity to have his daily talk with God. Before this strenuous duty, Sergeant Gott thought his prayers heavenward seemed to elevate no higher than the top of his armored personnel carrier. He longed for two or three days off to bathe, rest and play for better days.

During his day off, the chaplain came to Sergeant Gott’s area with a request. “Sergeant Gott could you help us set up some chairs and tables so we can feed the children and their families”. Still too tired to resist, Sergeant Gott rolled out of bed, put on his physical training uniform then slowly went towards the metal building as directed by the chaplain. He began to put chairs under a table when he felt a tug on his gray PT jacket. It was a bright eye little Iraqi boy maybe 8 or 9 years old. “Please, Mr. Soldier, can I have some water to give to my grandfather? He’s so thirsty. He can’t ask. He knows no English.”

Sergeant Gott stopped setting up chairs to get the man a bottle of water. When he returned, he found the man on the ground. He was shaking uncontrollably with his eyes rolling upward. Sergeant Gott had seen this before. The old man was having a seizure. Every person in his presence was stunned seemingly trying to determine what to do. Sergeant Gott encouraged everyone to stand aside.

“Wait,” Sergeant Gott said, “Move the chairs and tables to keep him from harming himself. He’ll be okay. After he stops, we’’ help him. Okay.”

“Okay, Mr. Soldier,” his grandson responded.

A medical team came forth. The doctor made her assessment verifying that he did indeed had a seizure. The old man was taken to the hospital with his grandson following as did Sergeant Gott.

“Thank you, Mr. Soldier. You saved my grandfather’s life,” the boy stated with tears in his eyes. “He’s all I have. All of the members of my family are dead. They were killed by Saddam Hussein. Saddam told us American soldiers are murderers, from the devil and evil. I now know that is not true. You Americans have given us a house to live in, food to eat, clothes and help when my grandfather got sick. What happened to him today has never happened before. When I grow up, I would like to visit America to see and meet more people like you, Mr. Soldier.”

Though still very tired, sergeant Gott felt a sense of accomplishment having come to the assistance of a fellow human being. He then realized whatever he does and whenever he goes it is all on behalf of God. That God puts people in the right place for good when they submit to His call.

Sergeant Gott slipped into his bunk. “Tomorrow,” he thought, “I’ll do the work of God in some other way. Right now, I’m going to pray and sleep.”

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