For this week’s Monday Minute, Planting Roots Director, Kori Yate, kicks off our theme for 2020: Growing Together.

Growing Together in Military Life

by Kori Yates

 

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25

I was three weeks into my Marine Corps training. 

To say it was tiring and challenging might be an understatement. I had joined the Corps at thirty-one years of age–a brilliant idea, I might add. But three weeks in I wondered if it was really a good idea at all. I hurt everywhere, literally. From running in boots to carrying a pack for miles, my body was tired and weary, but so was my heart. Sleeping outside in the cold of November, I pondered the wisdom of signing up for this adventure voluntarily. I questioned if I was really cut out for this or if I had overestimated my abilities. It was a hard three weeks of initial training with a lot more left to go. 

Looking out over the next few weeks, I wondered if I would survive (like really physically make it). But I also wondered if I was good enough. Did I really deserve the title of Marine when I had barely started and was already questioning my own decisions?

In those short three weeks, I learned a valuable lesson.

I needed a battle buddy (or two!). I needed them to help push me over an obstacle, pace me on a run, figure out a Leadership Reaction Course, and stay warm at one o’clock in the morning when we stood outside in formation after a fire alarm went off. It was November, and I am pretty sure there was no fire.

I needed Battle Buddies, friends, for these things, but sometimes I needed them so I would simply do another day. Looking at each other as we hit the rack each night I had an unspoken agreement that if they would get up and do another day, so would I. I needed them to remind me that I made it this far and could keep going. That my body could do more than I thought. That I simply needed to accomplish what was in front of me and then worry about the next thing. And that I could do all that was asked of me and more.

I needed them, but they also needed me.

We needed each other.

Reflecting on those amazing women who pushed me on, reminds me how many women God has put in my life in other moments to do the same. Godly women who might be a step ahead or a step behind or right in the thick of it with me that would look me in the eye and tell me to keep going, that God still had things for me to do, that I would make it, that God was big enough even when I knew I wasn’t. I’ve needed those amazing women over and over in my life. Crazy as it seems, many times they needed me too.

Regardless of where we are in life, we all need each other. As Christians, we need other Christians in our lives who teach us, challenge us, help us, and sometimes simply remind us we can do another day. As Christian military women, we are no exception to this rule. Sometimes military life makes this truth much more real.

This year at Planting Roots we are going to be GROWING TOGETHER.

We will learn why it’s important to grow together but also how it’s done, especially in military life. How do we find and develop these buddies when we often move? What does studying the Bible and praying together look like in real life? Why is a local church or chapel important and how do I even get involved?

As we join together both in person and virtually, we can start to see the blessing and benefit of GROWING TOGETHER. We can start to imagine what God can do with us and how we can impact his Kingdom when we come together. Much like Charlie Platoon back in the Corps, God has put us all in this squad bay of military life together. Different and yet very much the same, we need each other. 

We are so glad you are in this with us. As we take an in-depth look at Hebrews 10:24-25 this year, I pray you will start to look around you and see those God has put in your world with which you can grow. Whether they pour into you, you into them, or a bit of both, I pray we will see the importance of GROWING TOGETHER. God can do amazing things with Christian Military women us when we do. It’s going to be good!

If you are interested in joining our team as we embark on this journey, find more information on our Volunteer Page.