Jane Cook - Stories of Faith and Courage fron the War in Iraq and Afghanistan

I’m not sleeping through the night again, but it’s okay. The Lord awakens me to pray for my son’s safety, and I’m happy to do it. In the dark and quiet hours when most others are deep in slumber, it’s my privilege to trade the comfort of my bed for the honor of interceding on behalf of my son as he serves his country on the other side of the world.

Somehow it’s better this time. Despair is not allowed to consume me as it once did. Although living through the deployments of my sons has been excruciatingly painful, I sense a deep strengthening has taken place. I still do not know what tomorrow holds… but I do know him who holds tomorrow I place my trust in Jesus.

The first stanza of the old hymn classic “Be Still My Soul” says:

( http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/e/bestill.htm)

Let me ask you this. If you are not trusting in God, where will you go? To whom will you turn?

The motto of the United States Marine Corps is Semper Fidelis, which is Latin for always faithful.Let me encourage you to hold on to God and don’t let go. For God is Semper Fidelis!

Lord, help me today to strive to be as faithful to you as you are to me always.

“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” (1 Corinthians 1:9)

During Josey’s first deployment, instead of exchanging Christmas gifts, my husband and I agreed to outfit our son’s platoon (forty Marines) each with a Christmas care package. Researching the internet for the best items to ship, a list was given to everyone I saw or knew along with a request for funds for shipping.

The task seemed insurmountable. But enough came in for two hundred Marines and we were just getting started. Operation Santa has grown to become the largest Christmas drive for the troops in the Midwest. Just three years later, by 2008, we shipped more than thirty thousand Christmas stockings to troops.

I serve as full-time volunteer for our beloved troops and veterans putting in fourteen-hour days working the telephone, Internet, and public speaking to raise awareness and funds. Operation Santa ( www.operationsanta.info) is sponsored by Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines, a 501c3 organization which I co-founded, and for which I serve as president.

School children through senior citizens are involved with sewing stockings and writing personal notes. Businesses, civic clubs, veterans groups, families, individuals from all walks of life turn out to stuff the stockings. Our local Post Office comes to our location to pick up the boxes by the truckloads. Even postal workers stay after their shifts, unpaid, to help bring Christmas to the troops.

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois presented Operation Santa with the Home Front Hero Award. I personally have received the Commandant of the Marine Corps Quality Citizenship Recognition Award along with the Challenge Coin. Our local WEEK-TV, an NBC affiliate, named me one of twenty-five Women in Leadership in 2006 for Operation Santa efforts.

This has been the most terrifying, yet purposeful chapter of my life to date. However I intend to live the rest of my life serving our veteran community in some way for two reasons: in gratitude for their sacrifice and service and secondly, to pass on the torch of public service to younger generations. Freedom isn’t free!

Lord, show me opportunities to serve you stemming from the circumstances in which you have placed me.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

The thank you notes we receive from the troops themselves bring a tear to my eye every time. They express depression over the holidays, for some it is their first time away from home. Morale tends to be low over the holidays that causes distraction from their job and can put them in danger. For some, our stocking is the only Christmas present they receive. Here are just a couple notes of thanks for those serving in harm’s way:

I would like to thank Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines for all of their love, support, and concern over the past several months. As our time here passes, all of us miss home and the ones we love that much more. Add to this the holiday season which is a time that many of us see our families and friends more frequently, and feelings of loneliness and homesickness become even more prevalent. The cards, letters, and presents sent by all of you worked wonders to help raise the spirits of all of us that are here in Iraq.

We are very fortunate to have so many people that care enough to take the time and effort to think of us while we are out here. All of the Marines were surprised when they received stockings and that we also had a Christmas tree to enjoy.

It is incredible how much support we receive from back home. We are truly grateful for your support not only during the holidays but throughout the year. It’s amazing how the little things always go a long way. It is organizations and people like you that remind us why we do what we do.

We recently received some stockings that you put together for us over Christmas. Thank you for your support during this holiday season. We appreciate all the goodies and warm thoughts you sent our way. It means everything to us to know that we are on your minds and hearts back home.

Lord, show me how I might encourage someone else today.

“Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” (Proverbs 25:25)

Notes like the ones below prove our Operation Santa efforts worthwhile:

On behalf of my Marines and Sailors, I would like to take the time to thank you and everyone else responsible for the wonderful stockings. We truly appreciate this noble gesture because we can see that somebody took some of their personal time to make the stockings to include filling them. My men and women noticed this and were deeply touched by the kindness and generosity displayed. Gestures like these truly make everything we do worthwhile because it tells us that America cares about their men and women who are out here serving their country. Being away from our loved ones during the holidays is difficult, but we knew and understood the sacrifices we would be making when we signed on the dotted line. It truly is an honor and pleasure to serve our country. Once again, please thank every person who contributed to the wonderful stockings on behalf of the RED DRAGONS. We would also like to wish you and your families Happy Holidays and may God bless you all as well.

Men and Women of the Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines,