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)