Some of us left the military with various physical trauma's and mental trauma from war and combat duty and even from non-combat duty training accidents and various other things.

Amputations from legs to arms. Losing a hand, a foot, fingers, toes, losing an eye or total eyesight, severe concussions, facial injuries, hearing loss, severe burns causing disfigurement, dental injuries and more can leave a person in despair and the wanting for peace and help in their life. When leaving the military with severe injuries and health problems we truly need help moving on with our lives in some fashion plus good help from others.

Some of us have more than one health and physical issue to deal with. When you are young youth surely helps, but when the years of age catch up with you it can become harder. I have known veterans who live all alone as they are now in their senior years truly having a rough go of it. I now read about many young Veterans who are homeless and struggling with life. Suicide in the Veteran Community is 20 precious lives a day going into Eternity.

I went to a "Living Well" class for Veterans. The class itself wasn't taught that well, because the instructors were young and inexperienced. It was good they had it though, as there was plenty of good information about getting the help you need to deal with the many issues you may have. I am sure as time goes by the Living Well class will get better because of the reviews saying more needs to be done by having experienced instructors teaching it.

In spite of it, we veterans encouraged ourselves by talking about our issues to one another. We found out we weren't alone with our health problems and the camaraderie among us helped. Most of us in the class were between 55 and 70.

I know many young veterans are hurting too, but they did not sign-up. The young veterans need a mentor of sorts to give them a helping hand. We older veterans, as well as some of our younger veterans can be that for them as we have been through some difficult days ourselves and made it. Maybe you are not a Veteran but you can reach out and lend a helping hand to those suffering from a health issue too.

From what I have learned and have been told by many veterans after working in the VA healthcare system for over 20 years, when we vent our issues to our spouses and those close to us, it seems like they get to a point they no longer want to hear it, so we tend to drift away and become silent wondering where we can vent. You would think going to the doctor would be the place, but sometimes they don't want to hear it! One doctor told me she is in pain and said doctors understand pain. I told her you may have a variation of the pain I have but not the same. After I listed the issues I had she became quiet. She didn't have the issues I had. Some have aches and pains, yes, but some are more severe than others.

Don't you just love the healthcare providers who tell us we can live a better life and can adjust even though they don't have the issues we suffer with and don't see the whole picture we live with and fail to treat us appropriately. Granted there are Doctors that do understand and they are out there. Finding them is much needed today. I have found such Doctors who do want to help, though it can be a journey of time and effort to find them and financial means to see them. So I ask, listen to those with health issues who need the help, they are real people not lifeless mannequins.

One combat veteran was told by a doctor that he was young and looked in good shape and dismissed the issues brought forth by this young combat vet. The young vet left discouraged and his brother told me he still needs help. He is troubled by post Traumatic Stress from combat duty. He is not a mannequin, he is a real live human being that needs compassionate help. Who will help him, who will help lead the way for him? Now to more health issues of pain and grief.

Cancer. Diabetes. Problems from a stroke. Unhealthy weight gain and weight loss due to a physical condition. Neuropathy causing pain in the feet, legs, hands plus numbness and loss of feeling. Non-healing wound issues, colostomy issues, amputation issues, urinary catheters, severe headaches, joint problems, arthritis, heart issues, vision issues, dental issues, sleep problems, insomnia and a whole assortment of other PROBLEMATIC issues. The battles in the mind from PTSD causing awful troubles that need to be addressed and helped with.

Sometimes homelessness occurs and loneliness because of not being able to adjust back to civilian life when home from combat duties. This is a problem too. Combat is not the norm in life. Many civilians do not understand this and even some in the military and veterans who have not really been through it. Life was not meant to do this, (combat) but with sin in the world causing unrest and violence our Military must go forth in hazardous duty, and with that, OUR MILITARY must be taken care of as a result.

$$$ Yes, money can prevent us from getting the medical care we need also. Some vets do not use the VA where trying to get a needed appointment can be days away even months away, or they get disappointed with their treatment. So where do you go without money or insurance? It gets hard when you cannot get the medical care you need when you need it. Many put it off because of the hard time in getting care and end up in life and death situations.

We need some really low cost Doctors or Pro Bono Doctors to help out. Many can do this. It can be done. Any Volunteers out there? If properly advertised and promoted could be of great help.

All Veterans Christian Assembly has a support group and it's not always talking about the military and so on. It's about venting and getting support from others, helping us along. Some of us are shut-ins, in nursing homes and if we live in our own home, apartment, condo it can be hard to get around physically. The days of dysfunction instead of proper function because of traumatic injuries and mental health issues can be very difficult.

The LORD JESUS CHRIST knows about these issues and getting spiritual help and comfort from HIM and those who want to help is a good thing. When someone hurts or is sick we need to take them seriously. We read in the Bible from Book of James to be swift to hear and slow to speak.

Listen well and see for yourself what someone is trying to say. Have a heart today to be that person that is an encourager and helper. In Psalm 23 it talks about the LORD being our Shepherd. (He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; HE leadeth me beside the still waters.)

If you are saved in CHRIST, Heaven will await us someday when we will be HEALED forever. If you are not saved, you need to be so you can go to Heaven. Seek the Saviour today.