Sometimes we have passengers who may need a little extra assistance, perhaps someone blind, deaf or elderly.

I was once asked to help a down syndrome adult to his seat. As it turned out he was plenty capable of finding his own seat. I think he fancied himself a dapper business man, traveling like any other business man. He wore horn-rimmed glasses, a polo dress shirt buttoned to the top, khaki's and penny loafers. He carried an old-fashioned, hard-sided briefcase just like one my dad used to have. After he proudly found his seat, he sat down and plopped his briefcase on his lap. He officially snapped it open to reveal one lone item: a Nintendo Game Boy.

I couldn't help but smile, and I couldn't help but wish my third child was Down Syndrome. My own beautiful little boy is blind, severely mentally and physically impaired, and will never walk or talk or respond to us in any way.  If God was going to give me a special needs child, why couldn't He have given me someone like this? Someone happy, enthusiastic and, most of all, responsive?

I've learned how debilitating it is to compare, knowing it usually leads to a loss of contentment. It takes my eyes off of all the things for which I am thankful, and an ungrateful heart is a joy killer.

Many people experience shattered dreams, but Brett isn't just a shattered dream. He is an integral part of a larger story. God used Brett's part in our story to strengthen our marriage and deepen our dependence on Him.

Pain is an inevitable part of life. Without pain how would we know joy? Even those who seem to have it all in this life have a nagging feeling there is something more, because God set eternity in our hearts. (Ecc. 3:11) As Christians we know this world is not all there is, we know Jesus is preparing a place for us where there will be no more tears, sorrow or death.

But here on earth, stories are being played out and some roles are undeniably more difficult than others. There is no doubt in my mind Brett is perfectly fulfilling the exact role he was created for, not only in our story but in the stories of others as well.

I had a couple on my flight last night traveling with their sixteen month old son. He sat contentedly on his mom's lap watching Elmo. All was well. Alas, the battery on the DVD player died, causing the baby to have a complete melt down. He was horrified and started screaming, "Elmo!" "Elmo!"

I could just imagine the little guy's frustration...why weren't his parents doing what he said? Why, in heaven's name, were they doing just the opposite and putting the DVD away?

"Elmo!" he screamed with increased impatience.

He started throwing himself around in frustration, while his mother gently tried to explain that Elmo wasn't working and that they'd watch it as soon as they got home.

"Elmo!" "Elmo!"

She finally picked him up and brought him back to the galley.

He looked at me, his big brown eyes filled with tears, "Elmo," he said plaintively. Maybe he thought I could convince his parents to turn Elmo back on.

He had a little figurine clutched in his hand and hoping to distract him, I asked him who it was.

"Diego," he whimpered.

At least he'd stopped crying. I'm not familiar with any children's shows, so I hadn't a clue who Diego was and was at a loss for a follow up question.

At this point he put a chubby hand on each side of his mom's face, turned her face to him and said imploringly, slowly, "Elmo."

It was pitiful. He didn't understand why he couldn't watch it and he had a very limited vocabulary with which to make his case (remember, he's only sixteen months old). Though he did calm down, he never did give up trying to convince his parents to turn Elmo back on.

I am like that little boy sometimes. I can't understand why I can't have something. I can't see that there's a good reason, that God hasn't just arbitrarily decided not to give me my heart's desire. But I can trust that there is a reason. I can know that I have a loving Father that does not want to withhold any good thing from me. If we, as mere human parents don't want to withhold any good thing from our children how can we doubt the intent of He who is Love? (Mt. 7:7-12, Lk. 11:11-12).