Last week I was at the store and heard a young boy asking his parent for some special trinket he had just seen. While I continued with my shopping I was able to listen to the boy try to "work" his mother and end up with the prize.

At one point in the middle of his efforts, he said something that resonated through my memory and instead of seeing this unknown little boy, I saw my son Jonathan at that stage of life.

This seems to happen more and more frequently - I will see children at church, at play, in the store, and remember my children at that age. When I arrive at the office on Saturdays and see the Saturday soccer games I am reminded of numerous Saturdays, spent watching multiple soccer games; and being so grateful for the one year when all three boys played on the same team together - and went undefeated I might add.

Our son Jonathan is serving in the U.S. Army and is currently deployed to Iraq. This is his second such deployment since his enlistment. Just before his outfit left the states in August, I traveled to Kentucky to bring some of his belongings home - and to say goodbye.

Jonathan has never feared deployment, in fact he was anxiously looking forward to it. My wife and I are satisfied that he is doing what we believe God has for him at this point in his life. We are confident that God knows exactly where Jonathan is and what he is doing - even though we may go through extended times of not hearing from him. And if the truth be known, it is far more important to me that God has His eye on Jonathan and is watching him - than that I know his exact whereabouts. That is true with all four of our children - each one has been dedicated to God and we trust Him to take care of what belongs to Him.

There was a moment when towards the end of our time together I saw the little boy - big brown eyes, dark curls, a missing front tooth and the ever present glasses... The handsome, strong, skilled soldier was gone, and for just a moment I was embracing my little boy.

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