A Time to Remember...

This past Saturday was an opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery. We were blessed to go with friends from McGuire AFB (the Cady's) and lay flowers on the grave of Claire's father and brother-in-law. The girls were respectful and happy to lay their roses by each marker. Rachel, however, saved a rose... she asked me to follow her around a corner to talk and she wanted me to lean down to hear her whisper. As tears filled her little hazel eyes, she asked me if she could save that flower to put on her birth mother's grave (aka "Miss Tania"). She asked very politely and humbly if we could go there now so she could put this rose there. Whew- you could have knocked me over with a feather. Tears flowed down my cheek and Andy came over to see what was up with the two of us. By this time, she is in my arms, sobbing so sadly, and clinging to my neck, rose in hand. I whispered to him what she had just said and then there were three of us... standing on this sacred ground, we were overcome with emotion. Holding her little broken heart, I promised her that one day, we will go and find Miss Tania's grave and we will put the biggest, most beautiful flowers we can find by her marker. We will honor her...her life, her sacrifice and her legacy, and we will...
It took a while for Rachel's tears to subside. She said, "I just miss her." We were happy to report that we will see her again in heaven one day. Rachel seemed soothed at those words and soon that precious moment was gone. Many of you know Rachel, and you know that Rachel has spunk, but for a few minutes on Saturday, she showed a special side- a broken, tender, sweet heart that only the Lord can heal. I thank God for our little Rachel and the tender heart that He is weaving in her. May God give us grace to raise her (and her sisters) to bring Him glory...

LT