Josh spent Christmas Eve with his mother at the local mall looking at Christmas decorations and drinking hot chocolate. After a long day, he was worn out from the day’s activities. Before going to bed, he prayed for the health and safety of his beloved parents, David and Gail.
He dozed off to the peaceful sounds of "O Christmas Tree."
After falling into a peaceful night of slumber, Josh felt the presence of someone in his bedroom. He opened his sleepy eyes to see his father sitting on his bed dressed in his military uniform. David took Josh's tiny hand and held it tightly.
"Dad, what are you doing home? I thought you were in Iraq."
"I am, but I received a leave to see my little soldier for Christmas."
David told Josh how much he missed him and his mother. He also told Josh about his responsibilities as a captain in the U.S. Army Rangers. He commanded a group of loyal men and it was his job to keep them safe from harm and lead them into combat.
"Josh, I have an important message. I want you to tell your mother how much I love her and that I will always be in her heart."
Josh agreed.
David gave Josh a kiss on the forehead and told him to go back to sleep. He stood, saluted, completed a military about-face, and then vanished.
Josh woke up and tried to find his father. He bolted for the stairway to deliver his father's message.
At the top of the stairway, Josh could hear his mother crying. He saw two uniformed soldiers talking to his mother next to the Christmas tree.
He couldn't hear the conversation.
After the soldiers left, Josh went down the stairs to be greeted with a big hug from his mother. She told Josh that his Daddy had died while trying to save the lives of his men during an ambush.
Josh was stunned.
Dad couldn't be dead.
They had just spoken.
He didn't tell his mother about his father’s visit. Besides, his dad couldn't have visited last night if he died a week ago. Josh decided that his father’s visit was only a dream.
Friends and family came over to console Josh and his mother. Gail encouraged him to open his gifts, but he was too sad to think about gifts.
He went back upstairs to think about his dream…it seemed so real.
Josh sat on his bed and began to cry as he thought about his father. He always idolized his father for his courage and strength.
Josh felt a cold breeze move throughout his room.
He got up to retrieve his robe.
After putting on his robe, he felt something in the right pocket.
It was a six inch action figure dressed in Army Ranger gear. The uniform matched the one worn by his father. It even had a rifle and a captain’s insignia, just like Dad’s.
There was also a tag on the back of the action figure. It said "Merry Christmas to my little soldier, Love dad."
At that moment, Josh realized his father’s visit was real.
He looked outside to watch the light snowfall. He remembered how much his dad loved the snow.
Josh looked out the window and said "Merry Christmas, Dad."
After falling into a peaceful night of slumber, Josh felt the presence of someone in his bedroom. He opened his sleepy eyes to see his father sitting on his bed dressed in his military uniform. David took Josh's tiny hand and held it tightly.
"Dad, what are you doing home? I thought you were in Iraq."
"I am, but I received a leave to see my little soldier for Christmas."
David told Josh how much he missed him and his mother. He also told Josh about his responsibilities as a captain in the U.S. Army Rangers. He commanded a group of loyal men and it was his job to keep them safe from harm and lead them into combat.
"Josh, I have an important message. I want you to tell your mother how much I love her and that I will always be in her heart."
Josh agreed.
David gave Josh a kiss on the forehead and told him to go back to sleep. He stood, saluted, completed a military about-face, and then vanished.
Josh woke up and tried to find his father. He bolted for the stairway to deliver his father's message.
At the top of the stairway, Josh could hear his mother crying. He saw two uniformed soldiers talking to his mother next to the Christmas tree.
He couldn't hear the conversation.
After the soldiers left, Josh went down the stairs to be greeted with a big hug from his mother. She told Josh that his Daddy had died while trying to save the lives of his men during an ambush.
Josh was stunned.
Dad couldn't be dead.
They had just spoken.
He didn't tell his mother about his father’s visit. Besides, his dad couldn't have visited last night if he died a week ago. Josh decided that his father’s visit was only a dream.
Friends and family came over to console Josh and his mother. Gail encouraged him to open his gifts, but he was too sad to think about gifts.
He went back upstairs to think about his dream…it seemed so real.
Josh sat on his bed and began to cry as he thought about his father. He always idolized his father for his courage and strength.
Josh felt a cold breeze move throughout his room.
He got up to retrieve his robe.
After putting on his robe, he felt something in the right pocket.
It was a six inch action figure dressed in Army Ranger gear. The uniform matched the one worn by his father. It even had a rifle and a captain’s insignia, just like Dad’s.
There was also a tag on the back of the action figure. It said "Merry Christmas to my little soldier, Love dad."
At that moment, Josh realized his father’s visit was real.
He looked outside to watch the light snowfall. He remembered how much his dad loved the snow.
Josh looked out the window and said "Merry Christmas, Dad."
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