Tender Mercies

Even though this trial is hard Dave and I have been so blessed to know that we are a forever family and that we will be together someday soon.  We are grateful for the blessings and tender mercies of the Lord.

I want to share with you about one of our biggest blessings, which is our 15 year old son, Brett.  Brett has always been his daddy's little boy.  Ever since he was a litle boy he wanted to go whereever his daddy was going.  He would always walk around the house wearing his daddy's shoes. He shares alot of the same things that his dad enjoys, sports, aviation, riding horses, hunting and camping.  His dad taught him so many things.  He misses his dad tremendously but at the same time he is trying to make his dad proud of him.  He is trying his best to be a great helper while his dad is gone.

I have been so impressed with Brett lately.  He amazes me with his strength and courage everyday.  Every day he talks into his phone and is able to save what he says into a word document.  Then at the end of the week he prints out what he said and mails it to his dad every Monday.  He wants to make sure his dad knows what is going on in his life.  One day I read one of his letters.  I was thinking he would just tell him the basics like I went to school, went to football practice, ate dinner and went to bed.  But I was so impressed with his letter not only did he inform his dad on what he was doing but he shared scriptures with his dad and gave his dad a wonderful sermon about having stregnth and courage to carry on and not give up.

He watches over our little three year old and makes sure he tucks him into bed everynight.  He helps me with all kinds of different jobs and tasks.  There are some days that he might hesitate in wanting to help but he always ends up helping.

 

Another example was last week when our eight year old sons flag football team lost.  Brett was actually the referree for the game.  Brett could tell that his brother was discouraged and having a bad day.  So as we were headed home to have dinner Brett says, "well lets go get ice cream."  I told him, "we can't because we have dinner waiting at home."  Brett said, "Mom when I was Bronco's age dad would always take me to Dairy Queen to get ice cream before we came home to you for dinner."  So I better do what dad would want me to do.  Not only did we all get ice cream but Brett totally paid for all the ice cream with his own money.

Yesterday, as we were driving home from the fundraiser we stopped to get a bite to eat.  Brett helped his little brother with his plate and everyone was busy eating.  I looked over at Brett and he had his arms folded and his head down and was praying before he ate.  This made my heart swell.  What a great example Brett is not only to his brothers and sisters but also too dad and mom.

God has blessed us and has sent us some tender mercies through our son Brett.   There are so many times that Dave and I feel so badly for our children.  We feel that they have been robbed of experiences with their dad and also have to suffer during this trial.  For instance, Dave wasn't here to take Brett on the deer hunt.  He hasn't been able to help him train his horse. He isn't here now to watch Brett play football and cheer him on.    But I can honestly say that our son Brett is following in his dads footsteps of becoming a fine gentelman and that is one way of how God is blessing us during this trial.  I am also amazed at how coruageous all of the children of the Political Prisoners are.  They have such strong faith and they know that their daddy's and grandpa's are good men and God will bring them home soon.