Saturday, August 13, 2011

HOPE UNSEEN - A story of a man of true vision & a wife who wouldn't quit

A story of faith & courage.    
"I love you, but I really don't like you now."
Those words were wrenched from Tiffany Smiley, Scotty's hurting wife.

Captain Scott Smiley lost the use of both his eyes when a suicide bomber blew himself up thirty metres in front of Scotty's Stryker vehicle in Iraq.

Doctors told him he'd never see again. Scotty said he was so shocked and disillusioned that he blamed God. He was so mad that he quit praying and fell into a deep hole of depression. He refused to communicate except by proclaiming the unfairness and cruelty he'd been subjected to. Why him? A good soldier. It was then that Tyffany, who'd stuck with him throughout his agonising trial, challenged him.

Finally, though blind, he saw " light at the end of the tunnel" and asked God's forgiveness for hurling accusations against his Maker. It was then that God's peace flooded his heart and soul. Sympathetic to his war wounds, the Army said, "You've done your work and made your sacrifice. You can retire. But Scotty was adament he still wanted to be productive and serve his country.

A recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, he recently taught the core course in leadership at West Point and now commands the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point's Army Medical Centre. Scotty, a true man of vision, and Tyffany, a nurse, are the proud parents of two boys.

You can read about their story at www.hopeunseen.com  and purchase the book, pictured, from Amazon.

2 comments:

Joy Avery Melville said...

Rita;
This was such a great posting. I saw this couple interviewed on TV and the testimony - the great humble attitude just blew me away. I appreciate the way you've written about them too.
Your blog is full of great posts, btw!
Praying God will continue to bless it and YOU!

Margaret Lepke said...

With God we can truly be overcomers - no matter what - but without Him, we are truly lost...