Tag Archives: Canaan

Mackenzie, Mel & Michael Wilkinson

This past Saturday, I said farewell to my son, Michael, who is off to serve a second tour in Iraq.  I held my emotions in until I got home because I didn’t want him to see my grief. 

My grief is because I was there when he returned in 2006 from Iraq and it was one of the worst years of mine & his life as he continued to re-live the events that took place while in Iraq.  We will never understand the horrible atrocities our military people have seen in this war.  It is horrible and unimaginable and there seems to be a waiting line at most VA hospitals of young men & women, suffering from PTSD and needing help.

I believe the count is up to 17 of his buddies who have given their lives for their country in Iraq.  The rest of his buddies that lived are learning that survival doesn’t stop just because they’re back on American soil and away from imminent danger.  The survival of night sweats, nightmares, flashbacks have caused many to fight a different type of battle.   Some have resulted suffering from severe depression.  I would guess the depression stems from their mind desperately trying to process what they saw and experienced.

I recall a song I wrote for Michael years ago when he was 6 years old.  He was so afraid of going into deep water and I wanted him to learn to swim.  One day at the pool, I carried him out to the deep water, holding him snugly against me.   I could hear whimpers as he grasped tightly to me from his fear. 

I always sang to my children when they were afraid, or when they were going through a hard time, or to teach them to enjoy taking baths, or doing chores.  I made up silly songs all the time.

So this particular day as we wandered out into the deep water, I sang, “Don’t Be Afraid of Tomorrow”.  Now at the time, that was not a song that I knew.  I was just making it up as I went.

Years later, while Michael was in Iraq, I wrote him and asked if he remembered this song that I eventually ended up writing and recording on my first CD, JustMel.

It comes from Psalms 91

DON’T BE AFRAID
Dont be afraid of tomorrow.  Don’t be afraid of the storm
Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams.  The one He placed in your heart
(to Chorus)

Chorus
Because He Will Carry You, He will See you through
In the middle of the night when things don’t seem right
He will give you a song, make your feet go on
To run the race ahead, You will be victorious!

Don’t be afraid of the terror by night, the arrow that flies by day
God keeps his eyes on the sparrow, and I know His heart is set on you
(to chorus)

Don’t be deceived by the plans and the schemes to draw you off the narrow way
Don’t you Fall…because you’ve been called
Stand up and don’t be Afraid!
(to chorus)

God Bless all our children, husbands, spouses and other family members who serve so proudly for us!

Hugs & Blessings,
mel