... St. Peter, at Heaven's gate, sees
the soldier standing at attention,
in full dress uniform.  Gone are the
fatigues, the wounds, the pain that

ushered him here.  St. Peter opens
the Book of Life and is about to tell
the soldier his name isn't in there,
when a Voice, with a sound like

thunder, says, 'Stop.'  'But, but--,'
St. Peter starts, and the Father
comes out, saying, 'You heard Me
the first time.  Stop.'  The Father

tells the soldier to approach and
snaps a salute, saying, 'At ease,
Soldier.  You've earned your rest,
because you've already spent

your time in Hell.'  'But what about
my family?  Those I left behind?,'
the soldier asks.  'They won't rest
easy with me gone.'  The Father

pulls him into an embrace, and, with
tears in His eyes, replies, 'I will be
with them in your place.  I will make
sure you are never forgotten.'

(c) 2010, Karla Dorman (5/28)