Saturday, December 3, 2016

A Christmas Birthday

You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father's face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.  ~John Rice


It was a long eight years. Years of hoping, yearning and many times crying over my desire to be a mother.  And then, just when I was least expecting it, I was -- well, expecting!  Oh, the anticipation and planning.  Our child!  I had come to believe in my heart of hearts it would never be.

Melanie Lynn was born on the thirteenth of December.  Holding her in my arms felt so right.  This tiny baby with a head of black hair and brilliant blue eyes captured my heart.  What fun it was to dress her in beautifully smocked dresses and tiny patent shoes.


It wasn't long until her navy Stride Rite shoes were skipping off to school. Where did the years go?  Somewhere between navy plaid jumpers and roller blades my little girl traded her jumper for a skirt and became a teenager.  Oh, how I loved her teenage years!   In the midst of a big move and new school for her senior year, Melanie's navy plaid turned into green plaid and...she fell in love.  Suddenly the familiar plaid was traded for a gown of white and my hands-on mothering was completed -- talk about a tough transition!

It's been such a joy to watch Melanie evolve into a beautiful woman of God.  She chose to be a stay-at-home mother to three growing knights and one sweet princess.  Her home is organized and decorated with care.  She shelters family and friends through entertaining and sweet gifts baked in her kitchen, tucked into mailboxes at church or shared with neighbors and Shawn's employees.  Melanie uses her gift of music to play her violin in the orchestra,  enhance her children's love of music by consistent practice of piano, trumpet and saxophone, and exposure to assorted genres -- singing in a formal community choir, entering a junior competition for voice and instruments, and encouraging them to audition to act and sing in a Christmas production. 

Did I happen to mention the joy this daughter of mine brings to me?  This month as I celebrate this gift of my first-born, I will be thanking my Heavenly Father for Melanie.


                             

Another mother birthed a baby this month -- a Baby she wrapped in swaddling clothes and cradled in her arms.  It wasn't long until Mary's baby was using His tiny broom to sweep up the wood chips in His father's carpenter shop.

Then Jesus' bare feet were clothed in leather sandals and His broom was traded for a walking stick.  He turned water into wine and His hands touched blind eyes and made them see.  He fed crowds of people with the simple meal of fish and bread while His teachings fed their hearts.


This Jesus traded His walking stick for a crown of thorns. His body hung on a cross as the veil of the temple was torn in two.  Because of this, the sins of the world -- MY sins can be forgiven.

Did I happen to mention the joy this Jesus of mine brings to me? This month as I celebrate His gift, I will be thanking my Heavenly Father for the Son He gave so freely -- the Son who has forgiven my sins, and sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for me!



This birth of Christ is so much more than an historic moment; it is the promise of joy! A joy that sparkles in my heart more brightly than the 600 lights on the nativity tree in my living room, the festive motion lights inside the gingerbread train in the kitchen, or the glow of all seven lighted wreaths hanging outside.  Its radiance goes beyond the angel chorus announcing Jesus' birth.  The prisms overflow with the light of a thousand colors, I know my Melanie came to be my child just as assuredly as I know the Christ Child came to be my Savior.

On the 13th we'll be singing, "Happy Birthday, dear Melanie," and on the 25th those words will echo, "Happy Birthday, Jesus... I'm so glad You came."






29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such a sweet post! Happy Birthday, Melanie!

Anonymous said...

I was over on another blog and saw your icon in the followers. I took a turn from following Pinks on Pink Saturday and came by. I noticed someone else earlier that was a Google follower and it occurred to me, I should have stopped by my Google Followers to say something when I switched (Final answer) my blogs. Sorry I didn't think about that. Plus, I'm glad I stopped by today. I sometimes can anticipate where you're going (since I know that you do that) but this time, I didn't. Very well written. I'm glad I got to come by. Hope you'll stop by and visit. You writing encourages me to post a story that I like but have some hesitancy over. I'll try to remember to let you know when I post it. I am thinking I'll do it for tomorrow. Enjoyed my visit and listening to the video too. Thanks for sharing your story ... the full round of it . Jenn

Anita Johnson said...

What a beautiful birthday post...two different births, many years apart. Both gifts from God!

Renee said...

What a beautiful post. What a precious gift your daughter is in your life. Loved seeing the photos.

Lisa notes... said...

Babies bring us such a lifetime of joy. Glad you enjoy your daughter. And Jesus!

Fonda @Southern Scraps said...

Beautiful! I enjoy your quotes and stories!

Anonymous said...

This is an absolutely beautiful tribute to not only your daughter but to Jesus himself. To be so profoundly touched is a blessing don't you think? Hugs. Tammy

Amrita said...

lovely post. Happy birthday Melanie

Esther Asbury said...

Beautiful!
Happy Birthday Melanie ---hope your day is extra, extra special!

Nikki (Sarah) said...

HI Pamela..this is such a great post. As a mom I relate so much to the joy of mothering. A huge big happy birthday to Melanie. She sounds incredible and yes...on the 25th I too will wish Someone else a happy birthday. Have a great week...and again...just loved this post.

Sharon said...

Oh Pamela, how very sweet. Happiest Birthday to your dear Melanie. She sounds like an incredible woman, and a very special daughter!

And let me tell you, there is nothing quite like a mother's love. I still beam from ear to ear when my mom tells me how much I mean to her. So, I just know that your glowing tribute of love to your daughter meant more than any gift you could give her.

And Jesus - oh my. What other gift was ever more costly, ever more full of Love?

I am so grateful for Him. And yes, I'm so glad He came.

GOD BLESS!

Ruth said...

Birthdays! Gift-of-life days!
I, too, am thankful for the gift of a lovely daughter, mommy to Ian and Dominic. I was privileged to be present at their births and it truly is a miracle to watch the life God created in a human body. To think He humbled himself to travel a birth canal and be dependent on young parents and eventually take the ultimate shame of death on a cross, just so I can have eternal life, it the best gift of all! I rejoice with you!

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

Beautiful post, Happy Birthday to Melanie !Yes, Jesus we are so glad that you have come !

Doris said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter! What a sweet post. Children are truely a gift to us....as is Jesus.

Blessings to you this day!

Little Birdie Blessings said...

Thanks for sharing this Pamela. I've heard this song, but not seen the video before. It's perfect to show Sunday at our birthday party for Jesus. Happy Birthday to your daughter. My daughter is very precious to me as is yours. Merry Christmas to you and yours. ~ Abby

Shanda said...

Wishing Melanie a Happy Birthday and praising God for the joy that she brings into your life.

Rina Peru said...

A beautiful post about your lovely daughter Melanie (I would love to meet her in person!) and your love and adoration for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Thank you for the inspiration,
Rina

HeARTworks said...

Hi Pamela,
How wonderful if my mother wrote like this about me, but alas, my mom is no writer! Melanie must feel a warm glow when she reads this.

And dear Jesus came to give us a promise of joy and so many more gifts! We can never thank Him enough! God bless you this season! :^) patsy

Funmilayo said...

I love your blog design :)

Envoy-ette said...

Our children will be our greatest joy and accomplishment. How wonderful your daughter will grow to be called "blessed" because of the way YOU raised her.

Anonymous said...

What a blessing for you, for your daughter and above all blessings that sweet saviour, the royal king, that died for us!

Charlotte said...

What a beautiful post. Your daughter is as blessed to have you for a mother as you are to have her as a daughter. What joy you have expressed here. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Charlotte

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

That is my birthday, too.

Your post reminds me of one of my favorite songs . . . "Birthday of a King."

Merry Christmas, Pam.

Fondly,
Glenda

Pia said...

so precious. belated happy birthday, melanie!

derry said...

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Annesphamily said...

I enjoyed your post! Happy birthday to your daughter. What a delightful woman she is. Your words were so wonderful! It was good to visit you today.

nanette@momneverstops.com said...

Awesome post. This is my first time on your blog and I have enjoyed reading it. The greatest gift can give us a child. My son was born on Dec. 15th and is expecting his first baby any day now

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Cheryl said...

So very sweet! I am so thankful Jesus came! And, I, too, was with child, by a Divine-intervention miracle, 16 years ago. I was in labor on Christmas Day, but our sweet, precious bundle of joy wasn't born until the next morning on December 26th. Words could never express how much I love Jesus and how much my husband and I love this dear son God sent to us after 12 1/2 years of marriage and many years of infertility struggles. December is the month for miracles, to be sure. God bless you and your daughter, too!