Life Lessons for Marie ~ Frosting

Dear Marie,

In your first two years of life, I rocked you in my arms many, many times. I can still remember your little “baby face.” I watched you grow up and always felt a special connection to you. You and I alone know about the many conversations we had about how hard it was for you to be the “middle child.” (Of course, now you are the second oldest rather than the middle!)

To remind you of how precious, unique and altogether loved you were, I gave you the pet name “frosting girl.” Do you remember why? We were eating Oreo’s one day when we had one of our best conversations. You were hurt and angry because you felt that you were being overlooked after Emily was born. You were afraid that you were not special any more. So, to remind you of how much God loved you, and how much your family loved you, and how much I loved you, I named you after the sweet middle of the Oreo—that wonderful “frosting” right in the middle between two cookies—a brother and a sister. You giggled. For years you would run up to me, jump in my arms, and ask with a laugh, “Am I still your frosting girl?” Of course, yes! Then and always...

As you forever leave your childhood behind, I hope you will never forget how truly remarkable and amazing you are. God loves you so very much. May you always love him and others in an abounding way. (Philippians 1:9-11)

Your friend,
Judy

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
~ Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)

Life Lessons for Marie ~ Gratitude

Dear Marie,

First, let me congratulate you on your graduation from High School and for all of your accomplishments. I am grateful to God for the gifts and talents He has given you. You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them (from Eph. 2:10). You have a destiny woven by the hand of God.

One of my first memories of you… is that of a toddler. We spent some time together on the Oregon Coast. Even then, you had quite a voice! Your Uncle Dale would always “catch me up” with you and your family after his visits with you guys when he was back there on business trips. He would even have photos (so would Grandma and Grandpa M!).

I see a lot of your Uncle Dale in you… he also used his talents for the Lord. You and he share musical abilities. Dale was always so grateful for the opportunities he had to worship through his music.

Gratitude means having an attitude of thankfulness: being appreciative for blessings received. Please allow me to share some truths about gratitude with you.

The Bible has quite a bit to say about gratitude. Gratitude and thanksgiving go hand in hand. The Old Testament is an expression of gratitude because the whole Old Testament is the account of the Lord’s wondrous deeds for His people. In the New Testament the primary model of giving thanks is Jesus Himself. Paul also has a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving. He begins at least nine of his letters with thanks to God for those to whom he is writing… “I thank my God whenever I think of you.” ~ Phil. 1:3

My prayer for you is that you will always have a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving towards God. “Therefore since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” ~ Heb. 12:28

Your Uncle Dale was a good role model for gratitude and thanksgiving towards God… whether he was in a good situation or a very difficult time. Following is a prayer he wrote in His journal. I believe he wrote it in November of 2004… in the middle of his cancer ordeal…

Thank you, Lord for another year of life.

I’m thankful to have seen my precious daughter happily married to the man she loves.

I’m thankful to have seen my son mature into the respectable young man I knew him to be. He is faithful to his wife, and is pursuing a career through education.

I’m thankful for a loving and devoted wife, whom You gave me. She continues to be a faithful companion who cares for me in sickness and teaches me Your ways in humility and love. You truly know how to give good gifts.

I’m thankful for the friends and loved ones you have placed in my life. Thank you for our friends Dan and Deb Lute and for the Calvary Temple family.

I’m thankful to You Lord, for using this trial to refine me. I love You more than ever and want to serve You without reserve so that You are honored in all things. Be glorified and may Your Kingdom come!

Thank you, Lord, thank You for another year. Your lovingkindness is everlasting!

Marie, you are a beautiful young woman who is full of life. I encourage you to live your life to the fullest with all the passion and zeal God has given you. I encourage you to have a spirit of gratitude to God at all times. Like your Uncle Dale did… take time to remember and be grateful for all the wonderful things God has done in your life… the good… and even the things that seem bad… because God uses everything in our lives for our good… ultimately… because He loves us like no other.

Much Love,
Aunt Kim

Life Lessons for Marie ~ Intro

On April 27th our daughter Marie graduated from high school. As a special gift to her, we decided to ask our adult friends and family members to help us put together a keepsake book entitled Life Lessons filled with notes and letters from them. We had two purposes for this book: (1) to affirm qualities we have observed in Marie's life and (2) to provide positive exhortation from our own experiences in specific areas. For example, someone wrote about the importance of prayer, and another on the need to manage time wisely.

At her graduation reception we gave Marie the finished book, with 20 letters filled with words of wisdom and encouragement. We pray this will make a big impact on Marie for many years to come. For sure it has given her something special to remember.

I am publishing these letters here for those who are interested in reading them, one at a time over the next several weeks. Thank you to everyone who contributed.