Davey’s squad did an awesome job of turning his locker into a beautiful memorial to their fallen team member and brother friend. I recently talked with a police officer from Davey’s old precinct and his locker is right next to Davey’s so he sees it every day.

Fallen but never Forgotten.

A couple of months after Davey was killed in the line of duty, we were invited to go see his locker. As we stood in the men’s locker room at the precinct, it took me a little while to realize I was looking around, over the heads of everyone else.

I was looking for Davey.

In the sea of the blue, it was an automatic reaction.

And then,

I remembered…..

I wasn’t going to see him here today. I wasn’t going to see him again on this earth – ever.

These types of events are bitter-sweet.  It’s great to get together to honor Davey and the sacrifice he made in order to protect and defend others. These times also shine a spotlight on the big hole that has been left in our lives.

When I saw his Cardinals hat on the top shelf of his locker, I caught a quick glimpse of him wearing that hat and smiling at me with eyes that look so much like mine.

I love catching glimpses of him.

There have been times during this last 9 years since Davey was killed that I would be sitting next to my grandson and, out of the corner of my eye, I would see a young Davey sitting next to me.

When I look over, it’s obviously not Davey.  It’s his son, Micah. So much like his father.

Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Justice and mercy and humbleness before God is stamped on his heart and soul.

His long legs spread out in odd directions when he’s getting comfortable. Such a bright smile! Intelligent and kind eyes.

That big head full of ideas and questions and plans. Taller than everyone else he hangs out with so his head is always easy to find in a crowd. Always gentle with his sister. He is patient with her when her when she shows her ‘strong will’ and doesn’t want to have fun.

He needs to know the rules and follow the rules.  He doesn’t want to get into trouble.  But he will question the rules.  They have to make sense to him.

He loves sports……all of them.

And he knows A LOT more about sports than most kids his age.

He loves his family. They are extremely important to him. And he loves his friends.  It’s not hard to become his friend…..his heart is always open for another one.

He loves to go…. and do… and have fun.

He’s an obvious extrovert who loves people. And he loves God.  He knows a lot of the Bible stories – one of his favorites is David and Goliath.

Am I talking about Davey or Micah?

You guessed it – I’m talking about both of them.

Don’t get me wrong – Micah’s personality is also packed with awesome things that are uniquely Micah.  I’m very interested to see how all of these great qualities roll up into the amazing young man he is destined to be.

Meanwhile, I will treasure these  ‘glimpses’ of Davey…..

until I go ‘home’ and see the real thing again.

Miss you, Davey.

Love you.