A letter on your first birthday

Today,  my nephew turns one year old. This being a rather momentous occasion, I felt a letter was in order. And you have to read it. Well, you don’t have to, but you can. If you choose to.

Dear Nephew: Today’s your first birthday! It probably doesn’t seem like a big deal to you, but to those of us who eagerly awaited your birth, it’s hard to believe that a year has already passed. It’s hard to believe that you’re crawling (in your own weird way) and jabbering and doing all that growing up and becoming a little man rather than a baby. It still takes all I have not to scoop you up and kiss your chubby cheeks every time I see you. I know that at some point, all that hugging and kissing is going to become completely uncool, so I’m taking my chances now.

I prayed for you this morning, Little Man. I prayed and thanked God for you. I prayed that you would recognize your need for a Savior early on in life and that you would commit your life to Jesus, letting Him be both your Savior and Lord, the One who has absolute control of your life. I prayed that God would burn the memory of that experience into your mind, just as He did in mine, so that when the doubts and hard times come (and they will), you would remember and stand strong. I prayed that you would grow in maturity and faith, and that you wouldn’t face the obstacles and fears your aunt has faced. But even as I prayed that, I knew that obstacles and spiritual battles would come, some of them the same ones I’ve faced, some of them different, and I prayed for God’s strength to be upon you. I prayed that you would grow into a godly man who wasn’t afraid to love. I prayed that you would know how much I love you. I prayed that you, above all else, would love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. I prayed that you would trust in the Lord and lean not on your understanding. I prayed and thanked God for the sheer wonder and blessing that I get to be your aunt. Whatever happens in life, I want you to understand this: there is a God and He loves you very much—too much to let you stay the way you are.

You were born on a Wednesday. I spent all day calling your Grammy and Pa Pa, even your daddy. I wanted to know what you looked like in your first moments, what you did, how your daddy looked when he first saw you. But you took your time in getting here. You were born right after 7 p.m. I was in choir rehearsal at my church when your Grammy called to tell me. Taking the call made me late for rehearsal and the choir director (a friend) teased me about it. I told him you’d just been born and he announced it to that room full of people. And they cheered. Let that sink in: a room full of people you don’t know and may never meet celebrated your birth. That’s because they understood some things I hope you come to understand: that you are a gift from God; that you are made in God’s very image; that you are dearly loved; and that life is sacred and should be celebrated.

I met you the day you came home from the hospital. I drove to Missouri just so I could meet you and waited impatiently for your parents to bring you to me. They stopped at your Grammy and Pa Pa’s before even going to your house! And when I held you in my arms that first time, I was overjoyed. And I knew for a fact that you were one of God’s greatest blessings. I whispered those words into your ears then and I say them again now, even though now you’re capable of throwing screaming temper tantrums . . .

On Sunday, we’ll celebrate your first birthday with a big ol’ party. Being one, it’s likely you won’t remember any of it. But someday, I know you’ll look back at the pictures of the day. Yes, you’ll laugh at the pictures of you with cake all over your face. You’ll wonder what your mom was thinking when she dressed you in those clothes, then you’ll look at the rest of us and wonder about our fashion sense, too—and we had a choice! You’ll laugh at the hairstyles, ponder how young we all look, and wonder if you had fun. It’s likely that you’ll see people in those pictures you don’t know or can’t remember. And that’s OK. Ask your parents and they’ll tell the stories of the people who have loved you throughout the generations—stories of faith, hope, love, perseverance, and hard work. When you look at those pictures of your first birthday, it’s my hope you realize how much you’re loved and how happy we are you’re here.

Because there are people in this world who will never know that kind of love. There are people who have never heard anyone say that it’s good they’re in the world. May the love you’ve been shown help you to live a life that shines with unselfish love for those people.

Oh, Little Man, you are loved. Now, forever, and always. And when your dad starts getting on your nerves, come talk to me. I have some stories to tell you!

Love, Your Aunt Mandy

P.S.: Let’s review some things I’ve been teaching you: You hate the Yankees. What’s the proper response when someone mentions the Cubs, Kansas Jayhawks, and/or Dexter Bearcats? BOO! What are your favorite cheers? Go, Cards! and M-I-Z-Z-O-U! You can choose your own NFL team to love because your aunt has no preferences at the moment. But your daddy says he’s a Saints fan.