My wife and I just stood there and watched, as our son and new daughter-in-law walked through security at the Jacksonville, Florida, airport. The night before, all the planning for the wedding had worked, and it was beautiful. I wished now that they were leaving for their honeymoon, but the US Army had different plans. Our son was to report to Fort Lewis, where he was to prepare to leave for Afghanistan on June 1st. Praise God, he returned safely on December 20th.

I will never forget the feelings that I was experiencing as I watched my son leave to be in harm's way. I tried to figure out if I was proud, scared, angry, or just uncertain. I was experiencing all those emotions at once. I was numb. I just did not know how or what to feel.

I had asked my mother how she felt when she watched my father board the train to leave for World War II. Mom described similar feelings. I am sure that there are many who had the same numbness as they watched the ones they love leaving.

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives His disciples the "Great Commission", or, in effect, the marching orders for the church: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." (NKJV) But then, Jesus goes on to promise them, and us, something our military leaders cannot: "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (NKJV)

We do not like the marching orders that our loved ones and we have been given, but we do have the assurance that Jesus is with them and us.

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your promise of comfort during these hard and uncertain times. We ask You now to give peace and reassurance to ones who have already suffered sacrifices, and to those who are facing disruptions in their lives. Lord, You know the needs of each one, and we ask that You bless us, and keep us, according to Your promise that, if we take Your yoke upon ourselves, You will give us comfort. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

"Men, do you remember how it used to be? Wouldn't you like to rekindle that romantic flame again? Then surprise her with a Valentine getaway at …" The woman's voice from the car's radio encouraged me to call to ensure a Valentine's Day she wouldn't forget. The next commercial was from a florist reminding us guys of our duty to shell out $85 for a dozen roses so she won't be disappointed. This was followed by a restaurant's ad for a Valentine's Day special "to romance her like you used to". The commercials on the local radio station were doing their part to remind me that Valentine's Day was just three days away. I had turned on the car radio to get a traffic report, not a guilt trip. I was on the way to the airport to pick up my wife of almost 32 years, and I could remember how it used to be and how much things had changed over the years.

I turned south on the highway, and a couple of more ads about romance floated by me before I heard the traffic report, and I thought about some friends. For convenience, let's call them Joe and Peggy. I thought about how they would spend Valentine's Day.

When I first met Joe at work he was hard to get to know. Joe was a very private person — the kind of man who was inclined to keep to himself and expected others to do the same. I felt honoured that through the years our friendship had grown to the point that he confided in me about Peggy's condition and the things that he had done to help her through the years. For the last several years, Peggy had suffered from acute chemical intolerance. Anything foreign that she could not tolerate could result in a deadly allergy attack.

Through the years, Joe had shared with me some of the ways he had adapted to Peggy's illness. He enlightened me about such things as testing for the right soap, and what cooking utensils were best to prepare Peggy's special diet. Joe educated me on which air purifier was best to help Peggy breathe and about his continuing search for the right humidifier. Joe retired several months ago, and we stayed in touch by way of the telephone. Yesterday, for the first time since his retirement, we had a chance to meet for a cup of coffee. When the conversation got around to how Peggy was doing, Joe brought me up to date.

Joe told me that Peggy now needed breathing treatments every five hours. He informed me of the new medical equipment that he had bought to monitor her oxygen level and her pulse. Joe said that it took an hour and half to wash her hair that day. Joe was not complaining, but educating me on the meaning of dedicated love.

Joe remembers how it used to be, the sailing at Lake Lainer and the trips they used to take, but not this Valentine's Day. Joe will be cooking Peggy's meals, helping her breathe, and doing the best he can to care for his Valentine of over 40 years.

I am thankful to God for Joe and what he shows about true love and real romance. Joe demonstrates that real love is daily serving the ones we love.

Prayer: Gracious and loving God, help us to take our definition of love from yours, and let our practice be based on your example. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The Christmas of 1999 was one that will be remembered in our home forever. The holiday season got off to a good start when our son surprised his mother, on her birthday, by coming home from Germany. It had been almost eighteen months since we had seen him, and she had no idea that her son had got military leave and a plane ticket home.

Our daughter topped this on Christmas Day. After we had finished opening all the presents under the tree she gave one more to open. My wife let me open it, and inside I found a silver picture frame with the words, "I was born in the year 2000", written across the top and bottom of the frame. It was that Christmas morning we received the long-awaited news that we were going to be grandparents. They had told us it was their plan to wait about ten years before they would have any children.

We spent the next few months in anticipation and planning for the birth of our grandchild. We were blessed in July with a beautiful, healthy granddaughter.

At this time of year, we are once again anticipating the celebration of the birth of a child. As we are busy preparing with anticipating hearts the joy of Christmas, let us not forget the real reason for Jesus' birth. He came to die for us, to offer us the greatest gift of all, the gift of eternal life.

I believe God gave us the gift of anticipation to be used in sharing the joy of upcoming events, like Christmas and the birth of a child. Last Christmas we started preparing with excited anticipation for the birth of our first grandchild. As we prepare with excited anticipation for the joy of gift giving and receiving, let us not forget to share the greatest gift of all, the birth of Jesus, the Christ and Lord. How much greater and joyous should our anticipation be as we go through life expecting blessings from God and someday being with Him in heaven.

Prayer: Dear God, help us use the gift of anticipation to show our joy in the blessings you have given us. Put the desire in our hearts to share this blessing with others and to anticipate great things from you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.