More than missing her son David, I imagine Grandma Mary Henderson struggles, knowing David’s children miss him. There’s Thomas, thirteen, and there is the granddaughter Mary never thought she’d have, Tara, five.
I had put the thought of another child out of my head. I just kept saying I was done, until I started to feel I wasn’t. David was leaving for Iraq the first time, and we left it to God to settle the question. He answered with a resounding “yes.” Tara was born.
Just before David’s third deployment, his mother described David’s perspective on leaving his new daughter as if David were speaking:
As our eyes locked, I knew the meaning of “love at first sight.” She smiled at me as if she had known me her whole life. Her hand caressed my cheek like the whisper of a feather. My heart beat faster as I realized I had waited my whole life for her.
We have been inseparable for five months. We have cuddled and laughed late into the night. She has fallen asleep in my arms. She trusts me completely to protect her and love her always. As I watch her sleep, I try to form the words to fashion a good-bye. How will she understand?
Sleeping so peacefully beside me, she is unaware of my turmoil. She is my love, my life; everything has changed since I met her. I watch her sleep; she must be dreaming pleasant thoughts. She will not understand why I must leave. How do I explain that I must serve a second deployment to Iraq? I lean over, needing to kiss her, but not wanting to disturb her.
She smiles a lopsided grin…
I think my beautiful ten-month old daughter just murmured, “Da-da.”
My questions were plenty. Why must we separate again? Why did God allow this child to be born at this time? We don’t understand, but we have been enjoying our daughter for all she’s worth.
Lord, we don’t understand, but thank you for having a plan. We put our faith in you and resolve to revel in your wisdom and glory.
“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time… So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11–12)