Little Jessie is five years old
Born just two days after her father left home
Lost in a world of anger and hate he marches on
Tough as nails in body
scared like never before in mind and spirit
Day after day he presses on
Tired and dirty he rests a moment
Gently lifting her picture from the pocket of his uniform
A single tear runs down his dirty face
Suddenly all he wants is to hold her
In his strong embrace
The first winters snow drifts softly to the ground
Frost covers the window
As little Jessie sat staring at the endless night sky
No she thought, i'm a big girl and big girls don't cry
Quickly she wiped her nose with her sleeve
Running up to her room little Jessie grabbed a red crayon
And a single sheet of paper
Soon her mother tucked her into bed
After the lights were out she discovered the paper
with misty eyes and an aching heart
She read
Dear Santa I don't want any toys this year
I've been a very good girl so if it's not too much trouble
Can you bring daddy home?
I want him to bake cookies with mommy and I
Then I'm going to show him how I can ride my bike without training wheels
He will finally see the turkey handprint me and my best friend made
When we were three
Santa I know big girls aren't supposed to cry
But I miss my daddy
If you aren't too busy to read my letter
This is the only present i'll want
Forever and ever I promise
Love always
Jessie...

makes me sad for all of the children who are going through this

Children are always the ones who pay. Just think of the children actually 'living' in the war torn hell.