As a lone soldier's mother, I choose the road of faith - opinion

• Published date: 09 April 2024
• Author: SHIRA ATIK
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

In the last few weeks, though, I've asked myself: If I had known this war would break out, would I have tried to talk her into taking a safer, non-combat job? Or delaying her enlistment by a year? I wish I could say that I pondered this question, but honestly, there was nothing to ponder. The answer is yes, of course. I would have begged her to choose a different unit, would have played every card in my hand – including the guilt card – to convince her to change her mind. Having a child in a combat unit during wartime is every mother's nightmare. Knowing that your child is carrying a gun is disturbing enough in peacetime, but knowing that your child may have to use that gun to save her own life is chilling

Just as I know that I would have pressured her to stay out of combat, I also know it wouldn't have made any difference. And now, even if leaving the army were an option, she would choose to stay. She is doing exactly what she signed on for. Like every other soldier in the IDF, she took an oath to fight for Israel, even if it meant sacrificing her life. She believes with all her heart that this is what she is meant to be doing. When we talk on the phone, I listen for overtones of fear or regret. I don't hear any.

Going down the road of faith

But how is that possible? How can she be sleeping in a bunker surrounded by rockets and not be scared? After many sleepless nights and many conversations with other parents of lone soldiers, I've realized that when we look to the future, two roads stretch out before us. We can go down the road of fear, of worst-case scenarios, of haunting images that freeze us in our tracks, or we can go down the road of faith – in our children, in Israel, and in God.

Is it magical thinking? Perhaps. But it is what allows us...