Dear Joshua:
You’re eleven years old! That’s wild to me. I don’t know why eleven feels so much older than ten. Maybe it’s because you’re going to middle school (WHYYYYYYY) this year, or maybe it’s because you’ve grown up so much lately. Whatever it is, it’s been really fun to watch you at this stage.
i’ve been thinking about what to write for you for a while. Sometimes your birthday brings a lot of emotions for me. I’m always thrilled that you’re here, but sometimes it’s a lot to remember. That isn’t your fault, of course, but sometimes I have difficulty figuring out what I want to say. So this will be a little departure from the norm. and if you decide you don’t like it… well, get your own blog.
”Looking Back”
A boy, a girl,
They fell in love,
Grew together
Exchanged some vows.
Days went by,
Then months,
Then years,
And they knew the time was now.
They had prayed
And wondered aloud
Seeking guidance
On bended knee.
And one day,
the answer came.
God reached down
And gave them peace.
The boy, the girl
They felt such joy
To have their cries
Be seen and known.
But the joy they knew,
The plans they’d made,
Crumbled and faded
Just as they’d grown.
Their precious boy,
Already so loved,
Fought to breathe
And fought to live.
The boy, the girl
They stood by his side
Unsure, now, how to pray
Unsure of God’s motives.
Days went by,
Then weeks,
Then months,
So many days the same.
Their son, so loved
Would rise, would fall
Until one day,
God whispered his name.
The boy, the girl,
They had thought hard,
And had known their son’s name
For many days.
And now, while waiting,
While fearful, while watching,
Heard God remind them:
“It means ‘I will save.'”
Their precious son,
Already so bold,
Already so brave,
Began to fight anew.
The boy, the girl,
Witnessed God’s love
As He whispered,
“See what I can do.”
For that same God
Who gave them peace,
Was with them,
And stayed there each day.
His hands reached down
To their precious son
And continued
To model the clay.
The boy, the girl,
Now they knew
That when God
Seemed far and cold,
That He was the same
God who had given
The peace they had
Longed to hold.
In times of sorrow,
In times of joy,
In times of peace,
fear, depression, pain.
The God they knew.
Who sent His Son,
Was — and would always be —
the same.
The boy, the girl,
Their precious son,
They had been given
A most precious gift.
For though their son
Would struggle still,
Develop slowly, differently…
There was a shift.
Not a curse;
No, not at all.
Their precious son
Was free!
Not from hardship,
Woes, or pain.
But to seek God
And know eternity.
Their precious son,
Now growing up,
Has declared it
For his own.
He seeks the Lord,
God’s will be done!
He prays and sings,
Never truly alone.
The boy, the girl,
They thought before
God was good
When he brought joy.
But now they saw
God’s goodness
Displayed in the hardship
Known by their boy.
The boy, the girl,
They realized, then,
That we don’t love God
For good times He brings.
They loved their Lord,
And sought Him now,
Because He had given them
A precious son who sings.
God showed them hardship;
That part is true.
But there is more to
The story to tell.
God said He’d save,
And then He did,
And now, through hardship,
It is well.
The boy, the girl,
Their precious son,
Would take sadness
And despair again,
As now they know
God is always God
He will be, He is,
And He’s always been.
Happy, happy, happy eleventh birthday to my Joshy, my Josher Washer, my Jo-Jo, my t-rex loving, Titanic facts learning, Lego building, always singing, pillow stealing boy. I hope you know that we love you always. We love you when you fail a test and we love you when you accomplish a goal and we love you when you drive us crazy and we love you when you make us laugh and when you cry and when you sing and when you wake up and when you go to bed. We love you and we would never change a thing.
Love,
Mom