Thursday, October 05, 2006

Happy Birthday, Hunter!


One wish. One hope. To have a child. Our lifetime dream came true last year on October 5, 2005, and our lives have never been the same. We have known happiness as a couple, but the happiness that our life was filled with after having a child is so much richer, so much deeper, and more fulfilling. It is truly a blessing from our loving and amazingly wonderful Father. And each time I look into my child’s face, my heart simply melts. He is so precious, and our amazement never ceases.

My son has taught me that the love a parent has for a child runs so deeply that the parent will move mountains for this child. Likewise, many times throughout my life, I have fallen in a spiritual sense, or I have been hurt deeply. And as many times as I have fallen or been hurt, my heavenly Father has been there to scoop me up, cuddle me, comfort me, love me, and whisper in my ear that it will be okay. I know I won't always be there for my son, but ... if my love for my son is so great, imagine the depth of the love my Heavenly Father has for him? And He will never leave him nor forsake him. He will be beside him even when I can't be.

As I teach my son to walk, I look down at him ... his tiny, pudgy hands in my adult sized hands, and I realize that he relies fully on me to be there for him. To hold him as he takes his first steps. To teach him how to coordinate his chubby legs with his awkward feet. But, I realize that one day, I will need to let go of those hands and let him become an independent young man. I will need to stand back and watch as he falls, and gets up on his own. But I know he won’t be alone, because his heavenly Father will be there for him, too. Holding his hand. Hugging him. Whispering words of comfort to his heart.

The greatest thing my son's birth has taught me is ... God still performs miracles. Today. Right now. Not just in the yesteryears of the Bible. Every day is a living, moving, ever-changing miracle for me. Each adorable, heart-capturing smile; each small crawl; each little hand clap; each hand wave; each splash in the tub; each tooth that pops through; each unsteady step taken with the confidence of a child that fears nothing. They are all miracles that God has given me to remind me of his grace and love for me.

I am so grateful that God chose me to be his mother, and not a day goes by that I don’t have an attitude of gratitude for him. Having been married for 14 years before our son arrived, we became accustomed to a fairly selfish lifestyle -- one that pleased us, and revolved around our own needs. Now, there is a helpless child that is a part of our lives. One that mesmerizes us, amazes us, and has captured our hearts. I have learned that I can no longer put myself first. I have learned a new meaning to being selfless, and have discovered the joy of just slowing down and enjoying my family.

Can someone please remind me of this if my son is still living in our home when he’s forty? Actually, we'll be 80, so that may not be a bad thing, huh?!



Son, we love you more than words can say, and one day, when you read this, know that your smile, the twinkle in your eyes, your little squeals of joy, your belly laughs, and the mere glimpse of joy on your face when you see us has made us ever so happy, with full hearts, and joy that knows no end. God has given you to us -- a miracle, indeed. We love you! Happy first birthday, son!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, Hunter!

Susanne said...

Gibee that was the most touching, beautiful you've ever written!

A big Happy Birthday to you Hunter!

Shalee said...

What a beautiful, eloquent remembrance, GiBee. I do believe that God wants to be known as our Father for the very reasons you named - for us to understand Him to be our protector, our discipliner, our resource for all things that we need, our great example of love.

And Happy Birthday Hunter! You may not remember this special first birthday, but your parents sure will - and call it a joy.

GiBee said...

Thank you all for your wishes to Hunter ...

Honestly ... this almost made it (or a version of this) into Everyday Mommy's Summer Writing Contest ... but as I kept re-reading it, I decided to hold it for Hunter's birthday! I know I missed out on the contest, but I really wanted to express my heart on his birthday!

Call me selfish!

Heather Smith said...

Happy birthday, Hunter! I hope one day you will learn how blessed you are to have such great parents!!

Anonymous said...

How beautiful. Thank you for sharing this! I'm a very new reader.. but I just wanted to say what a blessing your blog is.

Happy Birthday, Hunter!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures. Happy Birthday Hunter!!!!

boomama said...

Happy Birthday, Hunter!

Beautiful post, GiBee!

kpjara said...

Happy Birthday Hunter! You couldn't be loved any MORE if you were being held by God Himself!

Cheryl said...

What a beautiful gift you written for your son's first birthday!
Happy Birthday Hunter!
To me the birth of a child is reason enough to believe in God!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Hunter!!!!!

What a sweet post, Gibee. I agree, our children are such miracles. As I look at my children, I feel I understand a little better the sacrafice God made in giving his Son for us. And to think that even after giving us such a gift, He was later willing to bless us with children to love and care for. What an awesome miracle and responsibility. God is so good!!!!

Katrina @ Callapidder Days said...

Beautiful post, GiBee - you've got me all teary-eyed, here.

Happy Birthday, Hunter!!!

Anonymous said...

Aww.. that was so touching! There goes my mascara...

Happy Birthday Hunter!!

Barbie @ Mamaology said...

"He gives the barren woman a home, makiung her the jouous mother of children. Praise the Lord!" Psalm 113:9

Laura said...

Happy Birthday to Hunter!!! Gibee your post was beautiful and I'm still wiping away the tears. It really made me stop and appreciate my kiddos just a little bit more..I never want to take them for granted. Have a great party! Laura

Theresa said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNTER!!

Tammy said...

This was so touching...

Happy Birthday Hunter!

Nancy said...

I am a new reader and this was very touching. God is good! Enjoy every minute,,, they grow up so fast!

Anonymous said...

How incredibly beautiful. I am so grateful for you that you've gotten to have this precious experience.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday to both of you (to Hunter, for his first birthday; to you, for your first year as a mother.)

Did Hunter blow his candle?

Forty years from now, Hunter will come to you and say, "Mommy, I love you. But I think it is time for me to be independent. When can you move out?"

Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com/

Overwhelmed! said...

What a beautiful and touching post. It brought tears to my eyes as I read it. I, too, had the same wish, dream, and hope fulfilled when my son joined our family. God's grace is so very sweet. Like you, my life has been so much richer, deeper, and more fulfilling.

I couldn't have expressed these things better than you have in this post. Thank you for sharing.

Happy 1st Birthday precious Hunter!

Barb said...

What a beautiful and moving post. You captured the very essence of what it means to be parents. And I love the photo of the little feet in the big hands. I loved reading this. And Happy Birthday, a day late, to your precious son.

Jennifer said...

Happy Happy Birthday, Hunter!

(sorry I'm late!)

Anonymous said...

I was teaching on the Father heart of God yesterday. One thing I said was that when we learned to walk our mother / father cheered us on -they didn't say - oh you fell down, or you only took one step, they rejoiced when we went solo - be it for only one step or two before we fell - and they picked us up, swung us round and rejoiced-then shared the moment with everyone

Father God is like that. He rejoices over our babysteps and loves to catch us and swing us high in his arms

be blessed :)

Stacey said...

Happy Birthday Little Guy!!

Dawn said...

He will be so blessed to read this some day. Happy Hunter's Birthday to all of you!