from Grief Beliefs guide to Reconciling Grief and Mourning

The Company Morning Report Data document for January 29, 1945 for First Lieutenant (Platoon Leader) John C. Phillips reads, “Battle Casualty. Missing in action in Belgium and dropped from rolls effective 26 January 1945.”

April 25, 1923 – November 12, 2013

The same report for January 31, 1945 for Sgt. Lawrence B. Lyon, Junior reads, “Battle Casualty. Lightly wounded in action (right and left thigh). Transferred to 45th evacuation hospital and dropped from assignment effective 26 January 1945.” Biographical notes read, “from Hill County Texas. Born 1925. One year of college. Civilian occupation: sales clerk. Single.”

November 12, 1925 – July 17, 1999

Sgt. Lawrence Boyd Lyon, Jr (L. B.), Daddy, GrandPop – served in the Army during World War 2 in the Battle of the Bulge.  He rarely talked about his time in the service.

1944

What does the Bible tell us about war?

God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm to the innocent is by going to war. Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, “There is…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Christians should not desire war, but neither are Christians to oppose the government God has placed in authority over them (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17). The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to conflicts, and praying for a minimum of casualties among civilians on both sides (Philippians 4:6-7).

SCARS: Daddy was shot in both legs and received the Purple Heart.  When we 3 kids (Ron, Karen, Anita) saw his scars we would always ask what they were.  He would explain that he got shot.  We would ask how it happened and he would always reply/his only explanation was that he was standing up when he should have been lying down!

God can use our scars: Often, if we allow Him to, God will use our deepest hurt to develop our greatest ministry. The reason our scars can be beautiful is because God gives us opportunities to invest in other people because of the struggles we’ve gone through ourselves. We should look for how God may want to use those circumstances. If we allow God to replace our wounds with scars, and we are willing to use them to help others, He will redeem even our most painful experiences.

A few other stories about Daddy came from relatives (I always thought they came from Uncle J. L. Lyon).

AGE DECEPTION:  We were told he lied about his age so he could enlist at 16; he wanted to serve so badly.

MP ENEMY ENCOUNTER:  We were told that Daddy was on a mission alone and came upon a German soldier in the woods.  They both drew their weapons on each other and both decided not to fire.  Instead, they exchanged items – Daddy was given a German Bible which we still have; he gave the soldier a pocket knife – and they went on their way.

EXHAUSTION:  We were told that his platoon returned from an exhausting mission and were presented to a superior officer for further instructions.  They were cold and wet and tired, their socks were rotten, their boots were in disrepair, and they were hungry.  It was said that the officer dispatched them further and out of despair Daddy supposedly jumped the guy!  We know he could have been court-martialed and dishonorably discharged for such an infraction, but he finished his tour of duty and came home when the war ended.

1946

HOME:  We were told that he came wearily home and greeted his beloved Mother briefly before falling into an exhausted sleep that lasted for days.  His father returned home relieved to see him well and whole and they say he lovingly picked him up in his arms and cradled his returned son like a small child, shedding tears of love and relief.

What a beautiful picture of the love of a Father for his child – of God’s love for us!Jesus showed us that the Almighty God is our Abba Father! (Mark 14:36). The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of all of us who follow Jesus and he intercedes for us from deep within, crying out, “Abba Father” (Romans 8:15; Galatians 6:4).

Bible Verses on the Father’s Love

1. “[The Father] guarded him as the apple of his eye.” (Deuteronomy 32:10)
2. “O Lord you are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hands.” (Isaiah 64:8)
3. “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8)
4. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor [or Comforter] to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth.” (John 14:16)
5. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1)

(See also Psalm 68:5-6; Matthew 6:4; Matthew 6:26; Matthew 7:11; Matthew 18:14; Luke 15:20b, 22-24; John 14:6,9; John 15:16; Romans 8:15; 2 Corinthians 6:18 & 2 Samuel 7:14; Ephesians 1:3-5; Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:15; Ephesians 3:20-21.)

NEW INFORMATION:  On February 4, 2012, I (Karen) received an interesting call and soon after, we were put in touch with an Iowa veteran from the Battle of the Bulge 1st Lieutenant (Platoon Leader) John C. Phillips who saved our father’s life one fateful day in January 1945!

GRATITUDE:  We do SO appreciate the service and sacrifice of John Phillips and of all those who join all branches of the military.

This is one of those passages in Psalms where the writer has enjoyed deliverance from peril by the hand of Jehovah. In the Psalm, he is expressing his gratitude and praise.

Psalm 116
“I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, All men are liars. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the LORD’S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.”  (Psalms 116:1-19, KJV).

We reap…

PHYSICAL BENEFITS:
One of Job’s friends said: “God giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields,” (Job 5:10). Therefore, when we breathe, eat, relax, drink water and enjoy things here on earth, we ought to acknowledge God as the origin of it all.

SPIRITUAL BENEFITS:
Jesus Christ – the salvation which is now available in Him – is the greatest benefit God has ever given to man; the supreme example of God’s love for man, and His determination that sinners must have a way to be saved.

In Ephesians1:3 , we are impressed that “every spiritual blessing” is located IN CHRIST, then in verse 4 – “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”; verse 5 – He “foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ”; verse 6 – The grace of God is freely bestowed on us; verse 7 – “we have our redemption through his blood”; verse 8 – He gives us wisdom and prudence; and all through Ephesians, and all through the New Testament we see the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.

We respond with GRATITUDE.
As we meditate on all the good things we have from God — our hearts should swell in gratitude; “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving…” (Psalm 116:17) (See also Colossians 1:3; 1:12; 2:6-7; 3:17; 4:2)

PRAYER: Lord God, we offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving for being our Father, for saving my father, for all you have given us. We pray for godly wisdom for our leaders, for the safety of our military, for quick resolution to conflicts, and for a minimum of casualties among civilians on both sides (Philippians 4:6-7).

1990 – Matthew Lindwall, Ron Lyon, Katie Lyon, Karen Lyon Lindwall, Andrew Lindwall, Anita Lyon King, Philip King, L. B. Lyon Jr., & Melanie Lindwall.

Blessings, 

Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”

*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com

About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com