Have you ever been given a gift that you didn’t understand the value of it when you received it? I remember at our wedding, we got this set of hot pads that you would put on the table and then put your hot pots on. I thought it was such a weird gift. Yet, it is the one thing that I use all the time. They are old, the picture on them is faded and they aren’t even straight anymore, yet, they are proved to be a useful gift.
Josh. My sixth child. Lord knew we didn’t need anymore kids. We had our hands full with 5 busy boys. Yet, me, being me, I needed another baby. I wanted another baby. (OK, I wanted to try for a girl, one last time). My husband never says no to my heart’s desires.
March 27, 2005, Easter Sunday, Joshua Daniel was born. He took a LONG time to come out. After 5 babies, Zach, who only took 2 hours to slide out, the doctors were sure Josh was going to be fast, maybe even scary fast.
Who know he had other ideas. He took 12 hours to get out. I was not impressed. I should have realized it was a warning. He was going to be a babe that did things his way. He was going to be a leader and not a follower. I was so mad at him. Really? 12 hours? That was so not necessary. He was 6’12 even though he came 3 weeks early.
Baby number 6… we didn’t get off to a great start. He needed me so much and I needed space. He didn’t let me have it. He made me love him. He didn’t care that I was sad I didn’t get my girl. He didn’t care that I had 5 other sons that needed loving. He just made sure that it was all about him. He did in such a way that everyone fell in love with him. His brothers adore him. He leads them. He knows how to do it in such a way that they don’t even know that they are being taken! He has his dad wrapped around not just his finger but his whole heart!
Another boy. Yet he, just like his brothers, is not just another boy. Josh is so special. He is the kind of gift that I didn’t realize the “value”of when I first saw him. Yet he was not going to settle for being lumped into the category of another boy.
Funny how many people do that every day. Yesterday I heard someone say, “Well at least my daughter got a girl in the mix of those boys.” THOSE BOYS?
Back to Josh, though. Josh is just delicious! Josh is sparkly. Josh is like the firework show that comes on Independence Day. Josh is sure the whole world loves him. He is sure that life stops just for him. He really thinks that blinking at him will make him have a dream about you. He is sure that toys in the stores are just waiting for him to come and bring them home. He believes that shooting someone with a gun is showing affection. He loves to snuggle and be told that “I am so glad that Jesus gave you to me.”
My Josh is turning 5 tomorrow. 5 years ago this little gift came into my life. I have the pleasure of finding out every single day what a wonderful gift I have been given full of surprises that make me want to cry with thankfulness that I was blessed with this little but not so little bundle of love.
Joshua Daniel… Happy Birthday, my sweet blessing from God. I am SO glad that Jesus gave you to me! I love you with all my heart and then some. You are loved and cherished!
Thank you God, for knowing how much I needed Josh in my life. Thank you for giving him to me. What a delightful gift! What a yummy treat! What a privilege to be called Mommy to this dear boy!
Amen.