Thinking of our children.

As the new year begins, I know it's been sometime since any new Fish This material has been posted. I assure you, more is coming, but I wanted to take a moment and say a few words about our children.

Shortly before the New Year, my youngest son, Hunter James, was diagnosed with Autism. It was a terrifying realization for both myself and my wife who has only ever dreamed of having a child who could call her "Mommy". And as we learn more and more about this childhood disorder, the fear is that he may never say even that single word, let alone fulfill any of the dreams we had for our child as parents. Our days are filled with strangers coming into our home to help teach him and keep him engaged so he'll interact with us as a child should. Hardest thing is not knowing why him, why he has to suffer in this way. And as if that weren't enough, Hunter has had severe reflux since he was about five weeks old, and now faces a surgery that could cure his reflux but complicate his life in many other ways. My heart has never been more full of prayer, for my son and his mother. But there is hope, there is always hope, and perhaps the fact that my youngest son is so very fond of water that one day, he'll desire to fish the wild streams of the world like his father before him and perhaps with him as well.

Recently, my long time good friend, Joshua "Knowone" Kelley, seen here on Fish This, celebrated the birth of his youngest son, Bodie McCoy. He and his wife are two of the most amazing people you could know. Sure to grow up and become the fisherman extraordinaire that his father is, Bodie has had to struggle early in his life as well. His father says he was born a little premature and his lungs are struggling to perform their labor. He is getting better and stronger each day, and the doctors tell them they do not see any other complications arising.

Prayer is a wonderfully peace-giving thing. For today, and every day after, let us remember our children in prayers, both those who struggle and those who might have speech and breathing come easily to them. We each have our trials, trials of our faith. And while it's easy to say we know our trials have purpose, it doesn't make it any easier to see our little ones struggle when they are already so vulnerable.

To check up on Hunter click the link for Hunter's Blog. Bodie and his progress is being documented at Mr. Mustachio.

More soon.