For each of my children’s birthdays I write them a letter here… to read “someday”…. Sometimes I am a bit behind and I am NEVER early. My oldest and youngest got theirs “on time” this year, but not my middle daughter.
Oh my poor middle child. Her birthday was in May. My calendar tells me we are closing in on October. However, I will not let this fact dissuade me. I will write this letter almost 5 months late, but she will have her letter.
My dearest Olivia…
Where do I start? Your laugh? Your fire? Your heart? Your wicked-awesome sense of humor? Your talent?
It’s hard to separate all these things from you. You are a delightful combination of zest, humor, magnetism, love, creativity and beauty. You are all girl, but pride yourself in being a tomboy. There was a time when all you would wear were dresses and pink. Nowadays you toss the skirts aside for pants or shorts, “I can’t play as hard in a skirt, Mom!”
However, you love to do your hair, beg to wear make-up and I quietly watch you when you primp…
It has been a hard year keeping your ear piercings clean, but you have been brave. You want your hair to get longer and longer, and you do the work to have the privilege of long hair. Tangles! Ouch! I see something in your eyes when you get an idea, and you can create from nothing… a masterpiece… even from a hole punch, safety pins and index cards.
I see in you a perseverance. A determination. A fearlessness. All of these traits have potential for great good or great mischief. I see mostly great good from these things in you… but I have also seen the mischief *wink*
Friendships. You have cultivated many. It seems your friends see in you the greatness I have. You are a Renaissance woman already… not secured to one best friend, but definitely have deep heart connections with a few. While this is mostly good, there are times where it is hard. I remember the struggle as a young girl too – being in the middle or friendships. I have seen your tears as you have struggled to please multiple friends whose only common bond was you. You’re only 7 and you are learning big lessons in relationship. While you have not been able to navigate perfectly, I am in awe of your sensitive heart and the love you show to others. Keep loving, my daughter… keep loving.
Something I have seen change and grow in you is your sensitivity. SO many more emotional tears these last several months. I have been surprised. For a long time I always thought you had more of a stoic persona… not giving too many folks too much power over your emotion. However… you have shifted. I feel a deepening bond between even us as you dig deeper into this new girl you are becoming.
I love you, Oliva. I admire your fire. Countless people have commented on your laugh… how contagious it is. You truly have a unique, magnetic laugh. I believe your laugh it is the fruit of your good heart. I believe God has created something in you that is meant to bless others… with joy… a distraction from the darkness that seems so prevalent…
There is truly something special about you. Yes, your laugh… but I think it is comparable to frosting on a cupcake. It is what draws others to you, but there is so much more.
Olivia… my prayer today is for that sweet heart of yours. For continued innocence, for life-long softness… for that special sort of joy God has planted in your heart to continually freely flow. I pray the limits of this world do not limit your creative process… I pray you continue to create and dream and grow by boundless measure. I pray your confidence is never stifled, but that arrogance never grips you. And as always, I pray that as you make choices, that you will continually choose Jesus.
And I want you to know this about Jesus… I am a sinful woman. I make bad choices, even now. But remember that while the world wants to insist that the God your daddy and I are trying to teach you about is full of fury and wrath and judgement and condemnation… the God we love is FIRST a God of grace. Of forgiveness… And that is why we chose “Grace” to be your middle name. There is far too little of it in this world… Olivia Grace… peace, grace… You, my daughter have a namesake and I am so proud to be the woman who you call “Mom”. I am blessed that YOU are my daughter.
Love you girl,
Mom
Don’t let the picture fool ya. All that “primping”… all that pink. Because as soon as they step away from the mirror, one will hear/observe things like I experienced last night while we waited for big brother’s soccer practice to end…
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