The G.I. Squad

“It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, but if there’s no one to help, tough! By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend, you can face the worst,” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12a MSG

I just want to take a moment to thank all the veterans for your service! Veteran’s Day passed recently and, as I sat in my bedroom last Wednesday, I had a thought come to my heart that was quite timely. I thought about my personal spiritual squadron, the ladies who have been holding me down for the past few months while I’ve been fighting the faith fight of my life! Maybe I should call it my faith war because truly, if you knew, you’d agree there has been a war waged on my faith like never before. So, as I sat on my bed thanking God for these amazing women, I thought of soldiers, specifically G.I. Joe’s. And I asked myself, ‘What does G.I. even mean?’

Turns out, there are many variations for the meaning of G.I. as it refers to military. Some people say it stands for “Government Issued”, others claim it’s “Ground Infantry”. But the earliest reference and the one I’d like to dive into is “Galvanized Iron”. Now, I failed chemistry class (in my defense it was A.P. Chemistry) so minerals, metals, anything science-related is not my forte. I’m a writer, not a scientist! And, though this term may not be considered what coined the term G.I. Joe, this particular meaning for G.I. piqued my interest. You see, in the early 20th century, military trashcans were marked G.I. because galvanized iron was the material used to manufacture them.

I know what you’re thinking, ‘And…?’. I thought so, too. Then, I looked into what galvanized iron actually is and here’s where I got my revelation. Galvanized iron is iron that has been coated with a zinc layer on the outside. It provides protection against weather-related decay, corrosion, rust…(wait for it) thereby preserving the structural integrity of the material! Okay, God! Let me tell you what I realized. These awesome women of God, my God-assigned hedge, the ladies that sharpen me when I’m getting a little spiritually dull; they are more than my #squadgoals, they’re my G.I. Squad! My Galvanized Iron Squad!

For believers, it’s no secret we are at war! Not in the natural, but the spiritual. Every day, we are warring in the spirit – at work, at home, in our families, in our community, in our minds; each battle making us susceptible to damaging the structural integrity of our souls. BUT God, who is our Highest Ranking Officer – Adonai Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, God of Armies, our Great Defender, Undefeated Champion! (Come on somebody)! He has provided people assigned to you! Because we are not meant to fight alone! Sis, these are dark times, when the world is confused, people are dying, families are divided, and you still got your own issues. Don’t go it alone! Go to God and He’ll position the right people around you; I’m a witness that with the G.I. Squad, you can face the worst!