Today is Branden's first day of working at Merlin Airport.
At fourteen, Branden came home from being at a Bible camp for a week with his youth group. He was excited beyond measure. He told my husband and I he felt God was calling to be a pilot. I must admit I was at first, alittle worried. But when I began to think back in Branden's life the things he was most interested in. I began to see how this calling seemed to mimic Branden's interests and passions. He was always interested in other's lives, enjoyed sharing Jesus with strangers and never had a problem talking to adults, even when he was only five years old. He loved missions and at very young ages he was able to leave Mom and Dad without any problems. When he was two years old, I caught his arm as he was attempting to run across the street to get his skateboard that flew out between his legs and landed in the middle of the street. I told him he could get hit by a car and die. He replied, "Then I would go home to be with Jesus in heaven, Mommy". All I could do was hold him and thank God for this little boy with a heart so close to Jesus. As he got older, he became a bit more daring in the way he played. We had a trampoline, and one day I looked out my kitchen window to see the trampoline mysteriously moving toward the middle of our house across the lawn. I saw no one pushing it, or pulling it. I put the dishes down I was washing, and went to the door to see this small boy yanking on the legs of the trampoline, inching it near the side of the house and almost directly under the overhand on our roof. Not understanding why he has carefully placed the trampoline in this spot, I went back in but watched eagerly out the window. The next thing I knew, I saw this little body free falling from nowhere. It was like Branden had catapulted himself off the highest point of our roof above the attic and was in a full front flip as he sped past my window. I didn't have time to even get outside before I saw this same body happily bouncing up high above my window, only to come falling down and bouncing up again a few more times. I briskly went outside and let him know this was not going to happen again. Well, it didn't off the house onto the trampoline, but he is twenty years old now, and I marvel at the days I look up on the sky with a smile on my face, peace in my heart usually, and joy in my soul knowing he is where he is suppose to be. He is only ten hours away from getting his private license, and then onto bigger and better things.
I hope he had a great day at the airport. I hope he was reminded of the calling Jesus put on his heart so many years ago. But most of all, I hope and pray he is at peace knowing he is right where God wants him to be.
