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Author's Note: Sometimes we receive an unusual amount of mail in response to one of Phil's articles. This one struck a chord with the many who have watched with joy and a little trepidation as their children leave home. Here is a sampling…

Thank you so much for “My Little Shark Hunter.” My son a lot like yours. He has lived life with no fear and just graduated Army booth camp. He will be going into airborne training, then ranger training, then shipped off to Iran. Do I wish he was, as you said, making a comfortable good living saving for my old folks home? Yes, but he is "living life on purpose" and for that I am very thankful to God for the newer improved version of dad. What more could I be ask for? I am up early this Wednesday morning reading because I couldn't sleep thinking about my son, then I read your article and realize I needed to commit him into God's care and control. So with thankfulness and lots of tears I release my son to you, Lord. You can protect him and take better care of him than I ever could. Amen. Now I can go back to sleep. I'm very grateful!

Phil,

Great article! My son is returning from Uganda this year. It appears he and his wife will be taking an American pastorate. It will be good to have them (4 grandkids, too) back in the states. I'd like information on your ministry, where you go, what you charge, what you expect from the local church, etc. If you have a brochure you could send me, I'd appreciate it. Check it out here.

John, Englewood, Ohio

Hi Phil,

Just read your story about your son! Congratulations on a job well done! I will keep him as well as you and your family in my prayers. I feel it is an awesome testimony on how you raised your son with the choice he has made to do with his life. God has a plan for his life and He is with him always! I am sure you know that but it was on my heart so I felt I needed to share. As a mother of two adult sons both in the Marines (one just recently fulfilled his 8 year term) the other son will stay in as long as the Marines will have him so I consider it a blessing to you as a parent the story you have shared! It is awesome to see God at work! God bless you and yours!

Dear Mr. Callaway,

Thanks for the encouragement. You may find this amusing or maybe just coincidental, but my 20-something pastor was preaching on Elizabeth and Zachariah during the Christmas season. The main thrust of his sermon, however, was not about the special child that John was, or paralleling his life with Christ's. Oh, no! It was about being sure about living for the Lord. It was about parents saying things like "I want to see my kids live for the Lord" and then not being willing to let them do it. It was about being careful for what you pray for because you might just get it (like children who are willing to follow where God leads them). I have four children. My eldest is nine. My husband and I have been blessed(?) with the responsibility of raising leaders. We can already see where the heart of our nine year old lies. When he sees pictures of hurricane ravaged towns in the States, or children starving in Africa, he asks "why aren't we going there to help?" My four year old is bound and determined to be a doctor - we always thought she would be the dictator of a small South American nation! Her sense of justice is huge and I have no doubt that she could be the next Amy Carmichael (even though her eyes are blue). My five year old is constantly concerned about conquering sin in his life and is learning to read so he can read his Bible by himself. My seven year old is a servant-leader with wisdom far beyond her years. I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging. That was not my intention. I'm writing to thank you for letting me know that it's okay to shed tears when the Lord calls someone to some place that is difficult to go. I know...I know.... they're not very old, and chances are pretty good that I'm just a silly mother seeing things that aren't there. On the other hand, it's nice to know that other people struggle with letting their loved ones walk where God leads them. Maybe God is preparing me for the same type of email that you received. All the same, thanks for sharing.

Kara-lea

Dear Mr. Phil Callaway,

I'm so happy to hear your son is in Uganda. I have just read your article. I am a Ugandan and so delighted your son is here to help. Thanks Steve! True the rebels have done so much in our country and especially to the children and lives of so many people in that part of the country, but your son will be fine, at least now the government is in talks with the rebels to end the war through understanding. Actually the rebel leader’s mother was flown to his hideout recently to talk to his son and we are hopeful the war will end. But thank you for sending your son down here. The next time he writes to you tell him we appreciate it, there's so much to be done. God bless you!

Man I hope the day will come when my daughters commit their lives and sell out for Jesus like your son. They are 10, 9, 6 and 2, but what an encouragement! My heart sank when I thought of telling them goodbye, but I hope that day comes.

The first time I read this article I so identified with what you said. You see, our daughter and her husband have been living among the Pashtun in the northwest frontiers province of Pakistan since September 11, 2001. Yes, that is the exact date that they arrived in their city there. Their goal: to bring light to an entire tribal group (Pashto speaking) where there are no known Christians among the more than six million who speak that language. At times it is hard to answer the questions – proffered by well meaning friends – but like you, we are so thankful to have raised a daughter who married a young man who have both heard and been obedient to the call – in the midst of all of the noise of our western culture. Interestingly enough – another of our children (her younger brother and his wife) have already lived for 15 months in Ethiopia – working along the Sudanese border at a Bible college. I guess it must be in the water. If you ever read this – please know that your message spoke to my heart.

I just finished reading "The Shark Chaser" and had to write and tell you how much I enjoyed it. Not only for it's wonderful humor and writing skill, but for how much I related. I laughed out loud and shook my head all the way through. Our 24-yr-old travels to Russia twice a year, our 22-yr-old is awaiting entrance to med school to be a dr. in Africa, our 20-yr-old is home for a week and then off to India w/ YWAM, our 19-yr-old is home for 3 weeks and then back to Capernwray in England, our two high school seniors will be flying the coop next spring (one has enlisted in the Air Guard) -- and then just one daughter is left. My husband and I are relating to your son saying what he'd miss most about home: the dog. (Only our kids are barely aware we own a dog -- so that means they are missing nothing.) Thank you for your inspiration as a writer and a fellow parent!

I understand about your son going to Uganda. I had very similar feelings when our daughter announced that she felt God was calling her to study abroad in India. She would live with missionaries, etc. etc. Her father and I prayed she would not be chosen. She was. We prayed for her health and safety. She did become ill while there, but she survived and grew a great deal. She also came home with 9 cavities. Friends often asked how we could let our daughter go to India. I replied that we trusted her to God's care. While she was in India, two young women were killed turning into the parking lot of their Baptist church on Sunday morning at Christmas time right here in our community. My heart ached for their parents, but this also reminded me that our children and their time with us is in God's hands, not ours. If the parents of the two young women could not protect them so close to home on Sunday morning from a reckless driver, then I could not have protected my child either even if she were with me. Thanks for sharing your story. It encourages us as parents to let go and let God have his hand in the lives of our children. BTW, after returning from India, she participated in medical experiments in order to earn money to travel in Europe, married a wonderful young man from Zimbabwe and parachuted from an airplane to celebrate her 23rd birthday. She's now pregnant with twin girls and living nearby. The adventure continues and I'd say she has it coming with two daughters of her own. God's richest blessings to you and your family.

P.S. If rain is threatening, I rarely go out without umbrella so I truly understand the cautious thing.

Good morning Mr. Callaway.

It's funny that I'm in the position your son is in, except I'm not facing wars or life-threatening diseases in the calling God's placed me in:) and my father is somewhat like you in having a difficult time dealing with the plans God has for me. He would love for me to have a "normal" life filled with marriage, full-time work and children, but I know that I must go the path that is before me in God's plan and not my dad's. It's hard, though, to be in the position that I'm in because I want nothing more than to make my father smile, but I know that to make my Heavenly Father smile is what my entire life's purpose is about. I want to encourage you to keep finding the love and humor of God in your relationship with your son. You have done something amazing in raising your son and it's apparent in the decision he has has made to follow the call of God to a very dangerous place to help those who cannot help themselves. Because of your love for Christ and the desire to plant into your son the passion for Christ, many people will be changed. Never think that you have done something wrong, but rather look at how much your son will change and impact others' lives because of your obedience to Christ. Your family is in my prayers, and thank you for sharing with people what God's leading you through!

Darcy

Just want to let you know how very blessed my wife & I were by your article about your son. Our own 20-year-old gave his life to the Lord a few years back but has since got into we do not know what & has been violent to me & his sisters & is currently homeless. It was such a blessing to hear how God has worked in the life of your lad & we continue to pray for our son that God would speak again to him & lead him like yours into serving Jesus. (name and address withheld by webmaster)

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