Happy John Day.

1 February
will always be a special day to me.

Since exactly19 years ago,
the world has never been the same again.

I've watched people come and go.
But this one
always stands near,

smiling -

with no agenda of
taking anything for himself;

but a simple desire to give
whatever he can offer.

In ugly times,
others retreat,
but this young man presses in.

Even when he doesn't know what he can do
to make things better,
he stands by you
- wordless,

yet you know he prays in his heart
that Daddy would do
what he cannot do for you.

If you meet him,
you'll agree with me
it's hard to dislike a young man like him.

If you speak to him,
you'll hear wisdom beyond his age.

If you see his hands stretched out,
you'll witness
his love and kindness.
giving what is good to others.

If you see his feet walking,
you'll trace his steps
in places
where many are too proud and ignorant to visit,
where many are too selfish to care,
where many are too afraid to go.

If you notice him in times of crisis and challenges,
you'll see him push through every tide
and emerge victorious -
because he is strong enough to bow down
and depend on and trust
the Greatest above the greatest in this world.

*

If you can see Almighty's eyes,
you'll find His gaze upon
John;

for they look to and fro the whole Earth,
to find one whose heart is pure as gold,
for though it goes through fire and cold,

it continues beating,
never stops believing and hoping,
in the One who put eternity in his heart,
on 1 February, 19 years ago.

*

In this lifetime,
as the only child,
I know I'll never have a brother.

But for eternity,
I know for sure,
I have a brother
beyond blood and bones.

*