Three years ago, I went to Colorado Springs with our church leadership team for a Wild at Heart retreat, where God little by little fractured my stony heart. First, He put His finger on my father wound, which every man has to some degree. Mine ran rather deep. Second, He affirmed my sensitivity as a dad to my girls. Third, He convinced me I could be a father to a boy. And fourth, He told me I would raise a boy to manhood, one who otherwise would not have had a father. One more day and who knows what else I could have discovered in the mountains.

Perhaps the most worrisome part of this past year was waiting for Micah’s arrival. Both Lindsay (nearly three months) and Jacque (about two months) came early, so the odds were high of an early delivery. Cindy’s OB-GYN was well-aware of that likelihood, so he kept a close eye on her progress. Dr. Folley was a great blessing for us in a time when we needed more comfort than ever. A believer in Christ, he regularly prayed with us in his office and assured us that God was caring for our little one.

Like Braddock, I lost my job last year. A strenuous season of ministry eventually led to considerable turmoil for our family. While I thought the outlook was improving, I was shocked the morning of October 14 when I learned I was being let go.