A Birthday Blessing

emilie,
i named you after a song.
 
a song a high school friend lead me to because he saw me in the lyrics.
 
at 16 listening to that song i felt for the first time that i was known. 

these are some of the lyrics to that song "emily" by michael w. smith

“you’re going through that stage
it’s a restless age
young and insecure
still there are doubts to fade
moments to be made
and one of them is yours

on the wire
balancing your dreams
hoping ends will meet their means 
you feel alone
uninspired 
well does it help you to
know that i believe in you
you're an angel waiting for wings
emily.”

emilie, today you are 12!  as much as i would like to be in denial and keep you my little girl forever i can see that you have entered “that stage” {sooner that i expected, sweetie}.  like all girls {yes, all} you have been bombarded, and are wrestling with feelings of doubt, insecurity, and feeling alone.  i would like to be able to tell you these will subside, they won’t.  BUT GOD.  sweet emilie, this is where your faith is going to be put into action!   your need for Jesus is going to increase, and you are going to experience tangibly what i have been praying over you for the past 12 years...

“I pray that out of His glorious riches 

He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 

so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith.  

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 

may have power together with all the saints

to GRASP

how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 

and to KNOW this love that surpasses knowledge- 

that you may be FILLED 

to the measure of all the fullness of GOD."

  Ephesians 3: 16-19

you are going to experience His immeasurable love. {“immeasurable” that is your word. remember.) God, is going to have opportunity after opportunity (because adolescence offers many} to lavish His love on you!  My prayer for you is that you will learn to faithfully submit your heart, mind, soul, and strength to Him, and that you will DWELL RICHELY in His love.

i know you.  you are tender to God's ways, generous with grace {thank you}, compassionate, and you seek Truth.   i know that you are going to seek His face and find it!  that is who you are.

i hope it helps you to know that i absolutely, 100%, BELEIVE in you, Emilie Erin Jones!!

(oh, i just want to go back and kiss and squeeze you at every stage!)

Happy 12th Birthday, Sweetie!

i love you immensely,
mommy