Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France
#782373
Some where in France
7-30-17[sic]
Dear Mother:–
I just received three letters tonight two of yours one of Teds and one of Kates inclosed. I do get such good out off your letters. I don’t want to hurt the others but I know they are all right and so long as I get your letters why it don’t matter about the rest, some times I think, and I wonder if your realy beleave I live in the sperit of life I picture to you, not sperit – real I don’t mean but just dayly life, and I surely have no desire to picture any thing but the real picture of life that you would see me in if you were with me daily, that was my promise when I left and if I can’t keep it I will own up to it and then write accordingly.
I am in rest billets tonight had a four or five mile march full order today which was only a joak. I am building up so the army equipage will land on me and be a part of me before the war is over I guess All the marches we ever will get will never bother me so never think that any more, I could not have said that a month ago but I have been thru the mill now, A lot of the past pictures of this war we have been led to see do not hold good now, The boys that have spent months in the trenches are just as cheer ful as any of use and game for the sports and any thing that comes up.
I have to see my first wreck of an army horse yet why they are round as apples so are the mules I havent seen a wounder horse yet, but occasionaly they get it.
The good old stars and stripes are up in this y they look good to me always and make my thots go back to boyhood days again.
1st corinthians 9 – 27 is good I have often read it and have it marked allso 10 – 13. Now the only things is this we never have salvation mentioned to come to a man the second time we do not see where God ever said that a man who had become the son of God thru salvation, ever was any thing else, so we will just keep on searching for deeper light on all of these promises and by so doing will gain great benefit on other things. My we had some of the greatest talks yesterday 2 Roman C. and I, and we are freinds to I have great freinds both R.C. the one has been for months and we had a row the first time we met things turn out so funny I never say any thing now with out I look up in scripture or quote some verse to prove my beleaf oh the word of God has such an effect on boys,
Mother I have sat and read my little testament in the open with Burns (we read responsively) when shells passed over our heads that killed some of our old own batt. boys we were no more concerned about it than if a bird went over, that is the way we feel here, why you only have to live a few days here to see the will of God in power I think. but mind I don’t feel that God is going to protect me for a moment more than any others but I am so content to live realizing his almight power to save and am so content to come when he calls that tomorrow brings no doubts nor worrys but I just look forward to the joy of serving him an other day or hour if it is his will.
[margin] 2nd cor. 3 – 2 study this verse it amounts to such a lot in its fullness
I know Mother that you are sad some times but I have times when I am to. I can’t tell why some times but it is hard to see the poor boys who go on content to neglect there salvation and I know I have sat with them some times and the tears would run down my face and I would sob so they all could here me but I could not help it. They build there hopes so strong on getting wounded that it keeps them putting off that day of excepting God. All, lots of the boys talk about is getting a blighty, But Mother, I never hope for a blighty or to get home again or any thing like that, but if it is Gods will he will look after that. Something has taken ever that and desire out of my life for any thing like that. I only want my life built on that foundation which is Christ Jesus and to serve him wholy to the end where ever that may be now to build my hopes of home and things after duration might interfere with my duty to God and that is the duty that stands before me now, and it an’t only in the form of my speritual duty to man but in my daily work I tell you Mother christianity builds up a man from his head to his feet and fills his life just like flax fills a sack in every corner, I don’t know whether this explains to you my thot or not but I hope it will.
Well bye bye Mother dear as ever your loving son
Laurie
P.S. I will have to thank censor for censoring this long letter but I couldent cut it short tonight.
The old guns are very active tonight. L.