Oct 20, 2021

the story of a soldier



there are some amazing moments that happen in life. like when you graduate high school, or you fall in love, or where the love of your life proposes, or when you get married, or when you find out you're having a baby, or when your baby is born. the list just goes on and on. there are so many opportunities for you to experience joy.

i think back to all those moments, and happiness fills me. i realize that there are many more incredible moments waiting just around the corner. in a world where it seems full of doom and gloom, there is still joy to be had and felt. but, that doesn't mean that we won't face hardships.

there was a story shared with me the other day, that felt like an ancient proverb / parable. it's the story of a soldier with ptsd who fell into a hole. it goes-

A Senior NCO went by and the Soldier with PTSD called out for help. The Senior NCO yelled at him, and told him to suck it up dig deep & drive on, then threw him a shovel. So the Soldier with PTSD dug the hole deeper.

A Senior Officer went by and the Soldier with PTSD called out for help. The Senior Officer told him to use the tools his Senior NCO had given him, then threw him a bucket. So the Soldier with PTSD used the tools his Senior NCO gave him.  He dug the hole deeper and filled the bucket.


A psychiatrist walked by. The Soldier with PTSD said, “Help! I can’t get out!” The psychiatrist gave him some drugs and said, “Take this. It will relieve the pain.” The Soldier with PTSD said thanks, and when the pills ran out, he was still in the hole.


A well-known psychologist rode by and heard the Soldier with PTSD cry for help. He stopped and asked, "How did you get there? Were you born there? Did your parents put you there? Tell me about yourself, it will alleviate your sense of loneliness." So the Soldier with PTSD talked with him for an hour, then the psychologist had to leave, but he said he’d be back next week. The Soldier with PTSD thanked him, but he was still in the hole.


A priest came by. The Soldier with PTSD called for help. The priest gave him a Bible and said, "I’ll say a prayer for you." He got down on his knees and prayed for the Soldier with PTSD, then he left. The Soldier with PTSD was very grateful, he read the Bible, but he was still stuck in the hole.


A recovering Soldier with PTSD happened to be passing by. The Soldier with PTSD cried out, “Hey, help me. I’m stuck in this hole!” Right away the recovering Soldier with PTSD jumped down in the hole with him. The Soldier with PTSD said, “What are you doing? Now we’re both stuck here!” But the recovering Soldier with PTSD said, “Calm down. It’s okay. I’ve been here before. I know how to get out."

-Author Unknown

i'm sharing this story because if we didn't suffer pain in this life, how could we help others? i don't want to be just any passerby. i want to be the soldier who jumps into the hole and says, "it’s okay. i’ve been here before. i know how to get out." and i couldn't say that unless i too had suffered. 

your pain and trials are not meant to crush you. they are the opportunity to grow stronger.

you are a strong soldier, sent here at the time you were needed the most. you have a purpose. though at times, you may feel like you are drowning, think of your trial instead as a moment where an ordinary person like peter parker (sorry, it's the mom in me coming out) suddenly turns into a superhero because a painful spider bite. it hurts at first, but in the end you're being transformed into something wonderful. you will have the opportunity to be someone's hero, and you will feel joy when you can help them out of a hole you never thought you yourself could climb out of.

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