Close

How to Know God

Do you ever wonder what Christians believe? Who Jesus is, what he did and why it matters? Get answers to these questions and more.

Spiritual Growth

Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.

Life & Relationships

Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.

Bible Studies

Find resources for personal or group Bible study.

Share the Gospel

Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow

Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.

Leadership Training

Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Video

Browse videos designed to help you grow spiritually, share your faith, and lead others well.

Language Resources

View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.

Quizzes & Assessments

Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.

Campus

Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.

City

Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Inner City

Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Athletes

Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.

Families

Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School

Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.

Military

Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.

Locate Cru Near You

Explore Cru's global presence and discover how you can get involved in communities worldwide.

Mission Trips

Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world.

1-Year Full-Time Internships

Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries.

Careers

If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals.

Go International

Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact.

Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? We need you.

Events

Find a Cru event near you.

Explore Your Interests

Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve.

What We Do

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.

Donor Relations

Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.

Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships

When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Storylines

Showing God in action in and through His people.

Press

Access Cru's latest news releases, media contacts, and background information on our global ministries and leadership.

0

PTSD: What Is Happening With My Daddy?

“We used to go to the park a lot before Daddy went away for such a long time,” said Cody to his mom. “When will he be home so I can play catch with him? I really miss having him here to say goodnight to.”

It is difficult for children to live through a deployment when their concept of time seems to drag on forever. Having a father gone for months on end is so hard to understand for the young children of military families.

Then what happens when he comes home from being in the war zone and life will never be the same again? What happens to that tender heart when the residue of the combat zone brings silence or angry outbursts from a parent who did not act like that before going away?

Over time, the confusion a child experiences because that same daddy does not want to play at the park or throw a ball anymore can be devastating.

When an adult has a wounded heart, hopefully, he or she will recognize what the issue is and deal with it appropriately. When a child’s heart is wounded from the disappointment that their daddy is not the same as before he left, they need reassurance their parent still loves them.

It is so important for a mom who is dealing with a husband healing from the wounds of war to keep the atmosphere positive in the home. It is also good to explain there are wounds inside the body that need time to heal just as a broken arm or leg needs time to heal inside a cast before it can be used properly again.

A good strategy in building up a positive attitude is to start out the day praying for Daddy and for each person in the family. Also think of actions to make sure Daddy knows how much he is loved and appreciated.

There are many reasons a person will feel sadness.

A child can be confused by adults who don’t take the time to explain why something is happening a certain way. Getting a young child involved in bringing joy to a sad heart is a sure way to begin to bring healing to everyone in the family. Some ideas are to bake Daddy’s favorite cookies, design a card of encouragement, or even give extra hugs.

God loves it when people turn to him for comfort for “He’s the one who comforts us in all our trouble so that we can comfort other people.” 2 Corinthians 1:4.

A good prayer might be, “Dear God, we really need you to help us understand our daddy. Give us some ideas to make Daddy feel better. We all want to feel better, God. Thank you for Your help. Amen.”

Additional verses: Psalm 28:7; Psalm 46:1,2a; Psalm 55:22

Visit our resource store for materials written specifically to help families dealing with the struggles of PTSD.

They are also sold on Amazon.

Since 1951, Cru has helped individuals who grapple with integrating faith into daily life by offering practical steps and community support. As a result, countless people in over 190 countries have been empowered to move from passive belief to active faith.