she was holding her father's hand

Earlier this year I was walking down an aisle at Walmart - focusing on buying a
newly released movie.

My eyes fell upon a man and his daughter - standing there looking at something
they were going to buy.

And the little girl was holding her father's hand.

~~~

As I hurried on I suddenly realized that I had witnessed something that is burned
in my mind and heart forever.

Yes, the little girl was holding her father's hand - but his hand was not flesh and blood -
but a shiny metal hook.

But to the little girl - she was holding her father's hand.

~~~

Now aside from that most cherished gift - as I see it - that I was given to witness such
a beautiful and touching - yet poignant occurrence - this is why I'm sharing this story:


If  - as President Barack Obama announced today - the war in Iraq is in fact at an
end - and if in fact the troops will be home by the end of this year - then that could mean
that some other little girl will be able to hold her father's flesh and blood hand instead of
a shiny metal hook.

~~~

I need to add that of course I have no way of knowing - and I will never know - if that
man lost his hand as a result of the war in Iraq.

But if there is even a small chance that he did - then I am overjoyed that our troops will
be coming home soon - all of them.

And it will always be my fervent wish - and prayer - that the day will come soon that they
can all come home.