Through her civilian job with the computer programming contractor at the military base, young and single Meg Atkins has met Marine Sergeant Cory Randall. Though Cory is only at the base on a temporary duty assignment, he faithfully attends the same church Meg does. There he met her landlord's family, who quickly befriended him, and he is now teaching basketball to the Claytons' young sons. Basketball practice naturally means Cory is invited to share family mealtime with the Claytons. Since Meg is also a frequent guest at that table, and they both help with the teen ministry at church, the two young people are very involved with each other.

But Meg's job at the base makes her keenly aware that temporary duty means members of the military can be transferred out to another duty station at any time. And though she is getting to know Cory and respects his sincere Christian commitment, she has her own commitment to Jesus for sexual purity and abstinence before marriage. So she is content to just be friends with him and continue waiting on the Lord for her future husband.

In this second part of the Temporary Duty series, With Thankful Hearts follows Meg and Cory as they grow in their commitment to the Lord Jesus and in their relationship with each other.