Hope you enjoy today’s post in the series, “31 Inspirational Women You Should Meet.” Today I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Krista. I have known Krista for over 20 years! And that is crazy. I don’t feel that old! She has become a dear friend to me, my sisters and cousins, and feels more like family than friend.

When she was in college she met and fell in love with an ROTC boy…and I’m sure she had absolutely no idea how much life would change as a result! Her husband is an Army Officer and works in combat arms. My son Sam basically thinks he’s a real life war hero…and I think so, too. 🙂

Over the past few years, they’ve moved four times, had babies in foreign countries, made friends to move and make friends again. For months at a time, Krista often has no idea where her husband is, what he’s doing, or when he is coming home.

In the meantime, she’s in the thick of raising little ones – frequently working the solo bedtimes, solo birthdays, and solo weekends. Her kids have never been closer than a plane ride to their grandparents, and spend months at a time away from their Daddy.

I know how positively drained I can feel after parenting for a weekend without my husband, and goodness gracious, my husband is just fishing with a few friends an hour away or something. I cannot imagine him knowing that he is face to face with evil, and that his LIFE might be in danger. I mean, are you kidding me?? I freak out if my husband is like five minutes late. Gone for months? In combat situations? These women are seriously heroes.

As we’ve watched Krista over the years handle her role with grace, trust, and strength, I have gained tremendous respect for military wives.

I can only think in vague terms of what our soldiers are doing in the name of freedom, but my goodness.

I tuck my kids into bed and Do. Not. Worry. for a minute whether we’ll be attacked in the middle of the night, whether food or freedom will be sparse in the morning. I am so, so grateful to men like her husband who are laying down their lives, literally laying down their todays, sacrificing their safety and comfort so that we are safe and comfortable.

But it is the wives, too, who are sacrificing.

I think of my own mother-in-law, a strong and positive woman. When her daughter was two weeks old, my father-in-law left to fight in the Iraq War. When my babies were two weeks old?? If my husband left to go to THE GROCERY STORE, he was threatened with his life to HURRY UP AND DO NOT BUY ONE EXTRA THING.

My mother-in-law spent many holidays alone, and instead of moping around sad, she would think of some creative adventure she could take the kids on to make a memory. Krista, too…using her time wisely, doing good – she’s the president of a Christian military wives organization, leading Bible studies, connecting military women.

This is a world I’m not versed in – the military life – but when I think about it for more than ten seconds, I’m overcome with gratitude, pride, and how-do-they-do-it.

I asked Krista that.

What do you say if someone says they could never do it?

“I usually say, you could.  God equips each of us for what He calls us to…I have learned that God gives you the manna you need for that day for the place He has called you to… I would have never thought I was ‘strong enough’ to be an Army wife.  And I’m not. Only God can give me the strength, grace, and mercy to love my husband and serve him as He seeks God’s will for our family.”

To the military wives.

I’m sorry that I haven’t taken the time to really see you. But I see you now. I see you choosing joy, single-parenting, begging the Lord for his protection, laying down your lives, too, for our safety and our freedom. And I thank you.

Sweet Krista, I’m so glad we all have you to look up to! You are an honor to your husband, an honor to military wives, and a hero, too, in your own right. 🙂

Do you know a military wife? Let’s take a minute to thank these women and ask them how they’re doing. Share this post.

Follow "Smartter" Each Day on Facebook!

Follow Jessica on Instagram!