The Best Birthday Gift

Charles Lutz, age 9

On December 29^th I celebrated my 44^th Birthday. I share a December Birthday with Brad Pitt, Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Britney Spears, Denzel Washington, and Steven Spielberg; to name a few.  Wow!  What a long list of amazing, brilliant, wealthy, and famous, people!  In all honesty, I wouldn’t trade my broken down, injured, scarred, imperfect self for their bright lights, five stars, red carpet, jet setting lifestyles.  I am perfectly happy with a life hidden in Christ Jesus...Humbled by His Redemptive Love for me, where I get my much needed daily downloads from Him.  When I am weak and frail, His Grace is sufficient...knowing His afflictions were more severe than anything I could ever go through, I can do all things through Him, who strengthens me.  He makes me lie down in green pastures and my cup runneth over...DAILY!  

I wouldn’t trade the priceless effervescent gift of my son Charlie’s presence for a well manicured, pampered, illustrious life in the limelight.  This bright quick witted 9-year old brings laughter and nonstop inquiries that cause me to grow in many ways.  I am blessed with Friends and Family that keep me on my toes and fill my life with Love, Laughs, and endless fodder for future articles for my Blog.  Haha!

I didn’t imagine that I would receive the best birthday gift ever.  It was written in a birthday card from Charlie. In it, he lists 65 reasons why he loves me.  This gift was so priceless to me because it is honest, comes from the heart, and speaks to me as a mother, a human being, and a Child of God.  Charlie doesn’t hold back his comments and opinions, so when he compliments me, it means a lot.

He insisted on reading this entire list out loud to my family after my Birthday dinner celebration.  We all laughed.  I almost cried, but we were mostly stunned by how well my son knows me, adores me, and how God’s Handprint was on that list.  It illustrates the love God has for me and how He views me.  He used Charles to tell me just how much He loves me and how proud He is of me.  

My Birthday Dinner

If I’m ever having a hard or difficult day, I will read Charlie’s words to remind myself that I am doing good.  I will cherish this card until my last day on this earth.

65 Reasons Charles Loves Me

1 -   You are loving 2 -   You are kind 3 -   You are patient 4 -   You are graceful 5 -   You help me learn my lesson 6 -   You comfort me 7 -   You care for me 8 -   You have a heart for others 9 -   You are thoughtful 10 - You have feelings 11 - You love God 12 - You depend on God 13 - You are wise 14 - You have wisdom 15 - You do Godly things 16 - You have a work ethic 17 - You are merciful 18 - You can do all things in Christ who strengthens you 19 - You are not careless 20 - You are beautiful 21 - You are a perfectionist 22 - You aren’t fake 23 - You are my mom 24 - You are caring 25 - You are supportive 26 - You always do your best 27 - You are not selfish 28 - You are not a last minute person 29 - You are unconditional 30 - You are strong 31 - You are healthy 32 - You are responsible 33 - You persevere 34 - You are honest

35 - You are smart 36 - You plan ahead 37 - You reach out to others 38 - You learn from your mistakes 39 - You have faith in God 40 - You don’t think about yourself 41 - You don’t feel embarrassed 42 - You don’t give up 43 - You are mature 44 - You have self-control 45 - You have true joy 46 - You have goodness 47 - You have peace 48 - You can teach people lessons 49 - You are not a good for nothing kind of person 50 - You are a fast thinker 51 - You are well behaved 52 - You strive for excellence 53 - You are humble 54 - You are calm 55 - You are not proud 56 - You are non-threatening 57 - You are special  58 - You are one of a kind 59 - You have your own way to look at things 60 - You make my heart glow 61 - Without you my life would be a huge mistake 62 - When I am sad you comfort me 63 - Everything gets much better when you are near 64 - Your thoughts are bigger than mine 65 - You were made to save others

God uses all kinds of circumstances and people to show us how much He loves us!  Apart from the most obvious and blatant sign that He loves us through the atonement of His Son Jesus Christ, He reveals His love to us in many ways, shapes, and forms.  We just have to sit still long enough to hear Him.

Sometimes the best gifts are not material in nature, but from honest loving words that build our spirits and confirm our inner longings. Words can empower a person’s life and launch them into another stratosphere. They can also take down a person’s spirit and deflate someone’s life into oblivion.  So be careful with the words you use on others.  The words we use to build up others could be the best gift we can give them.  So far, the best birthday gift I’ve ever received are the honest and loving words of my 9-year old son!

Proverbs 15:4The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. 

Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 

Proverbs 15:30
Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.