Comradery

Comradery is the spirit of friendship and community in a group, like the comradery of soldiers at war who keep each other upbeat despite the difficulty of their circumstances.

Who is a comrade? A close friend or a fellow soldier — in other words, someone who comes to mind when you say, "We're in this together." Comradery reflects that same spirit: both words can be traced to the Spanish word comarada, meaning “chamber mate,” or roommate. Comradery is a feeling of trust, a bond created by a shared goal or experience — you don't have to be best friends with everyone in the group to know you have their support.

I shared another wonderful day with my widowed friends.....my comrades!  It is wonderful to be able to laugh and enjoy time together with them.  We were friends before the deaths of our husbands.  But now we are drawn closer together in this grief each of us share...the loss of our beloved husbands.  Not only that, but all of our husbands lost their lives in the battle of cancer.  Yes, they were soldiers at war, but they lost the battle.  It isn't something we would wish on an enemy, but it is something we were chosen to share in.

There is at least one purpose for each of us, my comrades, and that is our sharing in this experience. We are stronger as a group than we are as one.  And even though our husbands lost in the battle, they gained the victory over death, for which we are thankful.  Now we must march on as soldiers for the Lord because our battle is not done.  We must continue to fight the good fight of faith.  Faith is the victory!  And the Lord is the husband to the widow!  He will continue to care for us as we put our faith and trust in Him!

Isaiah 54:4, 5

4. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
5. For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Faith is the Victory!

Encamped along the hills of light,

Ye Christian soldiers, rise,
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.

Refrain:
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.

On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array;
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.

To him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in heav’n.
Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus’ conqu’ring name.