Bibles help families cope with deployment stress

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
Peggie Knobles of Stockdale understands the grief of war.
She lost her oldest son, Lt. James L. Knobles, in Vietnam Sept. 20, 1970. She remembers the experience well—the ache of her loss, the eyes of her daughter-in-law, the tears of her second son, Kenny, as he mourned his best friend.
Her son has never healed from his brother’s death, Knobles said, even after 37 years.
But she believes a special Bible designed for military families, distributed to congregations by the Southwest Texas Conference, could help heal and encourage those left behind.
“People don’t realize how much help is needed for the wives and all the family (of military service members),” Knobles said. “Anything the church can do, it should. It really makes me feel good to know that the church is doing this (providing special Bibles) to recognize the ones who are left. This should give comfort to those who have husbands or someone in service.”
Knobles’ church, Christ UMC, Stockton, received 10 copies of a new Bible edition for military families, Finding Hope Beyond the Battle. The edition provides an inside look into the lives of men and women who have walked with their military spouses through deployment and return.
The Southwest Texas Conference offered each congregation complimentary copies of the Bible, a Campus Crusade for Christ list of resources for military families and a personal letter of support from Bishop Joel N. Martinez.
The Rev. Carolyn McGuire, pastor of Christ UMC, said her congre-gation’s military list included about 30 people. The Bibles and other resources seemed to be something her congregation needed.
McGuire said she immediately thought of Knobles, who has traveled around talking to groups about death and war.
“I passed this one to her because of her work in that area,” McGuire said. “I felt that was something Peggie would grab hold of.”
McGuire said she has distributed all 10 copies of the book and has received a great response.
Knobles’ grandson was deployed to the Middle East and has since returned, she said, but he has never been the same. Something is wrong with his mind, and the family has been dealing with that loss.
Knobles passed a copy of Finding Hope Beyond the Battle along to her granddaughter, who is caring for her grandson.
While the Bible is aimed at spouses, Knobles said other family members can find comfort in the stories, too.
“Just knowing that people care and are going to try to help these veterans and their families is really great,” she said. “It’s about not dwelling on our loss as much as helping those who are here. I learned that after several years of crying.
“We’re the ones who, I think, are left here to comfort the wives. We have to be strong and try to help them. This little Bible is good. I have one, and I’ll treasure it.”