December 30, 2012
Dear Emily,
Words,
words, words. Learning to walk is
passé; in fact, you have just about mastered a waddling run when you are in a
big hurry. And most of the time
you are. No, now you are into
words. It seems like everyday you
are able to repeat new words. I’m
not sure what your first word was.
You have been saying ‘Mama” and “Dadda” for months. You have particular words that mean
Simon and milk, but I can’t spell those words phonetically or any other way.
You finally managed to say “BB” and I can’t get enough of hearing the sweet
sound of that. You know “Pap” too,
but it usually sounds like “Yap.”
As special as those first words are, those words are not the ones that
have inspired this letter. That
word is “more.”
When
you say “more,” you do not state it as a demand but as a request. When you say more, it is a question,
and your voice lilts upward at the end with anticipation. “More?” It is not a word that you use selectively…not just for more
“Goldfish” or milk; not just for more turns at being tickled or jumping off the
counter-top; but also for more “Itsy-Bitsy Spider” or watching the
“wolf” video and for many, many other things that gladden your beautiful sweet heart and make you smile. It is a request that is irresistible …almost
impossible to deny.
You
will soon out grow the need to ask for more “Goldfish.” After all, you know where the snack
drawer is and you will soon be able to get your own crackers. You will get too big to stand on the
counter-top. Cartoons and silly
songs will eventually lose their ability to entertain. As you grow, you will find many
different opportunities to ask for “more.” I pray that you will
become selective in what you ask for and expect. The world will entice you to want more of material, glitzy
“things”; however, their sparkle and shine will gradually fade and leave you
wanting even “more” of the flash than before. An abundance of glitz
and sparkle will not bring you joy.
Emily, God has so many plans for
you! He wants to give you “more”
than you can imagine to request - more love, more joy, more life – riches that
will never lose their value. Seek
His guidance for your life and anticipate His blessings! You will be amazed….”MORE?”
I love you!! BB
“It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich”
(Dietrick Bonhoeffer).
