On Eighth Birthdays And The Stuff Of World Changers

Well, today you turned eight years old and on birthdays we mommas remember.  We go back to that day when we first laid eyes on our babies and remember how our world changed.

You changed our world for the better with your handsome smile and belly laughter and unbridled enthusiasm.  With your ability to keep us laughing and all your curious questions and your deep sensitivity to the heart of God and compassion for others.

There is a light in you, Trevor!  You have given your heart and life to Jesus.  I believe you have a God given destiny and purpose, that you will grow up to be a man who will in some way have changed his world for Jesus Christ.  

I believe you are a world changer.

When you were just a little guy, the two of us had this thing we did.  After teeth were brushed and bedtime prayers were said and lights were turned out, you would scoot over in your bed to make room for momma and say in that small voice that couldn't quite get all the right sounds out, "Wet's talk about fings!" 

So talk about things we would!

I would ask you question after question.  No matter that you had answered the same questions the night before! I would ask about your favorite color, your favorite food, your favorite Bible story, your favorite song.  Some of the answers remained the same and others varied over time, but these bedtime conversations gave me such insight into who you were.  You would always delight at the chance to be known and heard (not to mention stay up a few minutes later).

Over time, early school mornings made for less lingering at bedtime and those particular conversations now happen more infrequently. But every once in a while I'll still crawl in next to you and your Florida Gator pillow pet and hear about all your favorites.

The other night you were sick and as I kept late night watch to see if the fever stayed down, out of the dark I heard your voice, now more mature..."Let's talk about things!" So talk we did.

You still like blue and you still like doughnuts though you were craving nachos (with a fever?) and your current favorite song is "We Believe" (which I love hearing you sing word for word from the backseat) and right now your new favorite Bible character is Paul.

Oh really, why is that?

"Because," you answered, "even though he was shipwrecked and thrown into jail,

 he still held on."

I caught my breath. Yes, son, he did. Because you see, that's the thing about world changers.  That's the thing about the Pauls and the Nehemiahs and the Noahs and the Josephs and the Johns and the Daniels and the Trevors of this life. 

When the world around them seems to be spiraling out of control, when they face obstacles and opposition, when others sell out and let go, they hold on. They hold on to the promises of God, they hold unwaveringly to the Word of God, they hold tightly to the heart of God.

I believe great things for you, Trevor, because I believe in a great God who is alive in your heart and life!  I believe you can grow to be a mighty man of God and serve Him all the days of your life! I see this desire in your heart.  We pray for this as a family each night at bedtime.  We pray believing.

So hold on, my son.

Today and as you grow, hold onto God and the things of God.

You see, He is already holding onto you! He loves you so very deeply.

And so does Momma.

Happy Birthday, Trevor! Thank you for changing my world.

Dear Madi {As You Turn Nine And Head One Year Further Into Womanhood}

Dear Madi,

I have not written here in far too long.  But I could not let April end without writing to you during this your birthday month.  I have been thinking about you a lot these days since you turned nine, your last year in "single digits" as you told me!

As usual, we celebrated with breakfast and cinnamon rolls and fun surprises wrapped in paper and glimmering in the morning sunlight.  I brought ice cream cups - and your new baby sister, as you requested - to your third grade class on your birthday. Grammie gave you a beautiful family dinner and a perfect bag of surprises, and there was that fun day when we went shopping to spend the gift cards you were given.  Your gift from us and our final celebration - our "girls getaway" overnight trip with your BFF - was a blast!  We had so much fun in the sun!

But what I wanted to tell you was how much I love you.  How beautiful you are, and how radiant, and what an amazing person you are becoming.

How you are at this wonderful age with a beautiful mix of little girl and maturing young lady.  Still innocent, yet wise.  Carefree, yet intuitive.  Still dressing like a princess and having a room full of dolls, yet also into fashion and style and shopping and ipods and, of course, the ever popular Rainbow Loom.

This is a fun time in your life!  It is a fun time for us together.

You are smart and successful at school and other activities, but I've never heard you boast of such.  You take your gifts in stride and I love that about you.  You are faithfully involved at church.  You are one of the kindest, happiest girls I know.  I admire that kindness.  You are a friend to all, able to interact with adults, helpful with little ones.  You were already a great big sister to your brother, and now you are becoming an absolutely amazing big sister to your baby sister!  I can only imagine how much she is going to look up to you as she grows.  She has a wonderful example to follow.

I want you to know that though I don't always get this mothering thing right, I am committed to trying with all that is in me.  We have so much fun together as a family!  But while I enJOY being a mom to the fullest, I also take motherhood very seriously.  I pray for God's wisdom and ask for forgiveness when I get it wrong.  You are so full of love and forgiveness when I need it.  And I am grateful for the times when we get it right.  When we choose words carefully.  When we make choices that honor God.  When we laugh so hard that you start to hiccup. Oh, how I love that!

I also want you to know some important things that will help you as you grow.  I was talking to Daddy about this passionately the other morning.  There are some major transitional years heading your way.  And Madi, I so desire for you to grow and mature in God confidence.  I want you to clearly know who you are and Whose you are.  The world is filled with insecure girls who grow into insecure teenagers who turn into insecure women.  These insecurities manifest themselves in very damaging ways, yet there is a better way...God's way.  I hope and pray that you will grow up confident in Christ alone and grounded in His Word.  You don't have to chase the same image or things the world does.  Don't become consumed with self. Remember, all that glitters isn't gold.  And all that seemingly promises fulfillment often comes up empty.  But in God's presence is fullness of joy!

I want you to enJOY your abundant life in Christ, free from the trap of insecurity that holds so many in bondage!  I want you to keep your enthusiastic, positive spirit!  I want you to avoid the negativity and apathy that so many fall into along the way.  I want you to be so in love with Christ that your desire is to please Him first!  I want you to care more about what God thinks than what your peers think!  There will always be critics. There will always be someone who is better than you at something, or who is jealous of you for something, or who resents you for some reason, or even someone who is just plain mean to you for no reason at all.  Don't get caught up in all that!!  Keep your focus on Christ and serving others!  At times this narrow path can seem lonely.  But it is also where true freedom and joy and peace and fulfillment are found!  It is okay to be different.  Know we are always, always here for you along the way.  We are on this same journey.  To know Christ better and be found in Him, shining brightly for His glory alone, trying to further His Kingdom and bring Him praise, enjoying to the fullest every one of His gracious blessings along the way.  God's way works and it is good and the life He offers is truly abundant.

That is what I want for you as you continue to grow from little girl to young woman. This is what I am praying for you.  Because if you are in Christ and live according to His Word, the rest will come together.  I promise...pinky promise!

Madi - my first little love - thank you for who you are and the joy you bring to our family and to so many!  Your radiant, dimpled smile comes from deep within.  Jesus is evident in your life already!  I pray you continue to grow in Him and that being nine years old will be a fabulously fun year filled with the best of memories!

I love you more than you will ever know.

Mommy

"My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident.

No wonder I can sing your praises!"

Psalm 57:7 (NLT) 

An Easter Letter To My Children

Dear Madi and Trev,

We blinked and it was spring and Easter Sunday arrived.  And yes, we dressed you in clothes spiffy enough for an egg roll on the White House lawn because there is just something timeless and special about little children dressed to the nines on Easter.

The day was breathtaking, and as I knelt by you and your Easter basket Trevor, I glanced up and saw God's majesty as morning broke over the palm trees and orange groves.

As we do every Sunday, we went to church as a family to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Each Sunday is a celebration of this victory - each day, really - but there is certainly always an excitement in the air on Easter Sunday morning.  I felt it as a child; I feel it now.

Your Paw Paw used to come in my room early every Easter morning and say, "He is risen!"  From under my covers and out of my sleep the first words I spoke each Easter were my response to him.  "He is risen, indeed!" When I grew up and moved away there was always an early morning phone call with this Easter morning greeting exchanged.  This year you two called him first, fresh out of bed with sleepy eyes and messy hair.  "He is risen!" "He is risen indeed!"  Amen and amen.

After church we ate lunch at Grammie and Paw Paw' house.  As usual there was family gathered, delicious food, and love in the details.  We are so blessed.

But the most special part of this Easter was that you both got new Bibles.  Madi, Daddy picked out a very special, beautiful Bible for you.  You had been wanting your own Bible since you got saved and baptized a few months ago.  This study Bible for little girls is just perfect for you, and your excitement about it was contagious.  You have been reading it, taking it to church, and even brought it to school to show it to your teacher!

How can a young person stay pure?

By obeying your word and following its rules.

Psalm 119:9

You have been sitting with Miss Marlene at church on Sunday evenings.  She takes notes in a journal, and you wanted to as well.  She got you your very own so you can take notes just like her.  You will one day understand what a gift it is to hide God's Word in your heart at a young age.  And you will also one day understand the gift of godly people to help guide you in the journey of faith.  I thank God for people like Miss Marlene in your life.

I have hidden your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

Trevor, Paw Paw and Grammie got you an Action Bible, full of the many exciting Bible stories laid out in a vivid format just perfect to help you understand them.  You are an action sort of guy, and I am excited to see the Bible come to life even more for you! You showed your Bible to everyone at lunch, and started reading the stories right away (especially the one about Samson and Delilah because you know it freaks your sister out).

Your Word is a lamp for my feet

and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105

For the word of God is full of living power.

It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep 

into our innermost thoughts and desires.

It exposes us for what we really are.

Hebrews 4:12

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood,

and they have given you the wisdom to receive salvation

that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:15

The grass withers, and the flowers fade,

but the word of our God stands forever.

Isaiah 40:8

Your Daddy and I and your Paw Paw and Grammie promise to always teach you God's Word, and live out God's Word in our daily lives.  It is our source of authority. We believe it is truth and it is our joy to obey it!  There is true blessing in obedience and we pray that you will both read and learn and grow and obey God's word all the days of your lives because we want God's absolute best for you!  We love you more than any words could express.  You are God's greatest gifts to us.

Love,

Mommy

Sunday Letters

Dear Madi,

You blessed my heart today.  It was this evening, when you sang with me in church.  Lifting up the name of Jesus was even sweeter when your voice joined mine.  You have always loved the song Your Great Name, and I'm thankful you were willing to sing it with me.  You get incredibly nervous to sing in front of others, and the attention makes you uncomfortable.  You even tell me not give you any "compliments."  But you have a lovely gift and a tender heart, and I want to help you build up your confidence to offer that heartfelt gift to God.  It takes courage.  It always will.  Your Paw Paw preached on courageous living this morning.  And I saw you exhibit courage this evening.  Your song was a true offering and made my heart sing.

I love you,

Mommy


Dear Trevor,

You blessed my heart today.  Your daddy has a relationship with a homeless man in the community.  John often comes into his office, and he has tried to encourage him to be a part of a local ministry that shares the love and message of Jesus clearly and offers a structured plan to help homeless people get on their feet.  You have heard us speak of this.  This morning you were in Daddy's office when John came in.  You two shared a doughnut with him, and then you asked him why he won't go to the ministry.  He told Daddy he couldn't believe that even his boy was after him!  You then invited him to church tonight.  You didn't care at all how he looked or smelled.  That makes me want to be more like you.  Later on the way to church we were chatting about this and that and all of a sudden you said, "I hope John comes to church tonight."  Then you asked if he could live with us since we have a guest room.  He was on your mind.  He didn't come to church tonight, and you made mention of it in the car afterwards.  But we said you can always pray for him, and knowing you, you will.   I love your tender heart.  Your compassion inspires me.

I love you,

Mommy


Dear Jimmy,

You blessed my heart today.  Your message this evening was Biblical, relatable, and right on time.  Perfect for the day.  I always love the illustrations you use.  I am thinking about what you said about how you watch and know about Tangled and Backyardians because your kids love them, and you love your kids.  How because of your love for your kids, you want to know what they love and do what they love.  And how if we love God, we will want to get in His Word to know and do what He loves.  That makes so much sense.  I also love what you said about how intimacy requires consistency.  How to have an intimate relationship with God or with your family, you must be there and do the work consistently.  Thank you for your consistency.  It is one of the things I love so very much about you.

I love you,

Jennifer