This weekend will mark one year since our foster princess turned four and had her first birthday party. Well, not exactly her first birthday party, but her first themed Minnie Mouse birthday party with all the works: pizza, extravagant cake, colorful balloons, decorations, bounce houses, and presents…lots and lots of presents.
I often find myself thinking back to that day, and I get tears in my eyes each time I remember how after singing the traditional “Happy Birthday” song, I flashed a smile and told her to “blow.” But instead of blowing out candles, she blew everyone a kiss. I remember my heart instantly shattered into a million pieces as I realized this was the first time she had ever been told to blow out a birthday candle from a birthday cake. And I can’t seem to shake the memory of seeing the look on my husband’s face as he hurried over to her side, knelt beside her, and showed her what to do.
While this was a moment, I will never forget, the one memory that has stood out in my mind the most since that day is when I brought her to the middle of the room where all of the presents had been placed. You can imagine the excitement on her face and her friend’s faces because this is the moment they had all been waiting for.
As I made myself comfortable on the floor, waiting for her to start ripping open the first one, I saw her just stand there, scanning them with her hands behind her back. Wondering what the holdup was, I slowly became impatient as I knew everyone was watching. And so right before I told her to “hurry up,” she looked at me confused and said, “Hmmm…which one do I want?” Immediately I realized she didn’t know all of the presents were for her. She didn’t know she was going to be able to open them all. She didn’t know…anything. In fact, she thought she got to pick one…and then her friend Ramsey got to pick one…and her other friend Hank got to pick one…
But once I leaned in and whispered into her ear, she put her hands over her mouth, bent her knees a little, and shouted, “You mean they are all for me!?” Within seconds, tissue paper began flying through the air, bows were being ripped off the boxes, and the sound of wrapping paper being torn could be heard throughout the room.
The more I think back to that day, the more I see each of us standing in front of the gifts our heavenly Father has for us every day. Gifts of healing, restoration, wisdom, peace, joy, love, comfort, and forgiveness, yet we think they are not all for us, or maybe we only get just one. Or perhaps we spend so much time trying to decide which one we want, or we stand around talking to others about what we want or even need, we never get to open them all. Or maybe we choose one or two gifts, but then leave the rest because we think others need or deserve them more.
But friends, can I whisper to you what I whispered to our foster princess that day and what I believe our Heavenly Father wants to whisper to you at this moment? If so, I want you first to imagine what you need or even want from Him. Do you have them in your mind? Good. Now I want you to imagine Him sitting next to all of those gifts, and as you stand back scanning them and longing for them, I want you to imagine Him gently leaning over to you and whispering, “Sugars…you don’t have to pick just one because they are all for you.”
Did you catch that?
Did you hear what He said?
He said they are all for you.
So go ahead, sweet friend and through your faith (no matter how big or small) in Him, rip off the bows, tear into the wrapping paper, and let the tissue paper fly. And tomorrow, when you need more of the same, ask Him for it; he will have it; wrapped and ready for you to open and experience all over again. For if we being evil also know how to give good gifts, how much more will our Father in heaven give good gifts and blessings to those who ask Him (Matthew 7:11).
The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. ~ John 10:10
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ~ Matthew 7:7-8
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ~ Matthew 7:1
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First, I want to say how much I love your love for Goldilocks! The stories of your sweet girl always warms my heart. And thank you for your message on being open to receiving gifts from God. I really needed to hear this today!
You are so welcome! I say…let that tissue paper fly 🙂 xo
so beautifully written and exactly what i needed to read today. thank you:)
I am so thankful you heard His whisper….much love and hugs sugars! xo
Oh precious Goldilocks…seriously had some tears reading that she hadn’t ever blow out candles or that she thought she only got to pick one present…..you always know how to get me thinking…thank you for making me remember to ask Him for the gifts in my heart….love to you all and Happy Birthday to Goldilocks this weekend!! xoxo
I am so thankful that this post got you thinking and helped you hear His whisper to you today. xoxo
Oh my, what a precious story. Sitting in starbuck at the moment and this story just brought tears to me eyes, how wonderful to be able to give little goldilocks so much love and happiness. xo
you are so sweet! She sure is precious! And the things God is teaching me through her are priceless.
Oh, my! This post brought me to tears! You have no idea how much I needed to read your faith-inspiring words!! And, dear, little Goldilocks! How very precious she is…I know it must have broken your heart to realize how much this all meant to her. She is a very blessed little girl to have you and your husband in her life. 🙂 Thank you for this wonderful encouragement…God always knows exactly what we need to hear. Love and appreciate you, sweet friend, and often remembering you in my prayers. Surely God is working on your miracle, and I can’t wait for the day He sends your sweet baby to you!!!
Thank you so much Cheryl for always being such a wonderful and constant source of encouragement to me. I can’t thank you enough! You are such an amazing woman and I am honored and blessed to call YOU my friend. xo
Elisha, you have a way of writing that is so beautiful and precious…clearly a gift from God that you are sharing with all of us! Thank you for bringing me to tears (again!) and for the words of encouragement that I really needed today. God bless!
You are so sweet Alana! Thank you for reading and soaking in His truth to you! He is so good and He whispers…”Let the tissue paper fly…” xo
my #waitingforBabyBirdFam, my heart, just be still this battered heart. We take it for granted, the knowing those “Birthday gifts are all for me.” yet there are thousands who don’t ever get a one. One day to be loved and appreciated by all who know them. You’ve hit home so much lately, and oh how it hurts, yet it strengthens us to know these small moments give hope.. YOU give hope. Reminding us just how amazing our Heavenly Father is.
This, allows the broken pieces to be placed into a small melting pot and as we begin to believe our sweet heavenly fathers words, we start melting back together. Those parts of us which have been abused by the lies, the actions and the belief we’ll never measure up to being a woman because our bodies have betrayed us once again.
What the mirror throws in our face, he reaches and says look at me, see me.. Feel what I feel when I look upon my daughter. I know every tear, every ache, every bruise, every doctor visit. I see the gut wrenching ache when the darkness closes in.. BUT LOOK at me. VIEW you through my eyes. The first one to grab a friends hand when their hurting, the first one that niece or nephew, god child or student says your name. Hear them speak your name with love, and know I am with you.
I know what your heart desires, but because I have great things in store for you this is your journey right now. These trials my sweet girl are just that trials. There is another looking in on your journey. There is a woman you’re meant to reach and show them the faith of a mustard seed in me. You’ll bring them back home, to me. Trust me.. Stand in the light of my grace and love, be my shining example of through every rough patch, every time that mirror gives that ugly lie movement, and you falter.. Reach for me, I will wrap you in the grace, and understanding only a father can. Cry out, because when you do, when your heart pours out into the world and you bring each moment to life my sweet, broken girl.. YOU’VE touched another sister. There is a woman standing by hanging onto your journey knowing for the first time in a long time she isn’t alone.
Just as I have never left you, in the brightest of joyful days and the darkest worst days. I’ve been right there.
Thank you for always being open and honest, no matter how hard it is.
Once again, so beautiful Rachel! You have such a gift with words. xo
Oh my goodness, this brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome Stacy! And thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
So precious! I just love what a gift she is and that we get to experience the gift with you sharing!!! Love love
You are so sweet Caroline! I want you to know that you have been on my heart today…I am praying for you. Hang in there…it’s getting closer for you. xo
As always…right on time and just what I needed. I love your family stories and each time I’m so thankful that Goldilocks has you and your husband. She is just precious.
Awe, thank you so much Dana! We feel blessed to be a part of her life as well.
So sad that she didn’t understand about birthdays, or birthday parties, and that all the love and gifts were for her! I’m so happy that she has you guys to share your love and caring with her. She’s just the sweetest little thing! And a happy birthday to her!
Thanks so much sugars!! Xo.
Tears–Goldilocks is so precious and your message about God’s love is so touching as well <3 XOXO
Thank you so much sugars!! Did you ever get the email with her pictures?
Such a wonderful and beautiful post!
Thank you so much sugars! xo
I just read a blog that starts with ” did someone pray for me?”…!
I think I might have felt affects too. 🙂
hugs! xo
Hi there, Elisha,
I’m all the way down here in South Africa. I stumbled upon your blog (probably via Holy Spirit) and it has been so encouraging to me to read it. I come too from a fertile family, especially with unbelieving members having children out of wedlock…it has been a challenge.
My husband and I have been married 6 years now, tried from the beginning to start a family, and conceived once and miscarried at 18 weeks. It seemed to take forever to get over the grief of our baby girl. We are trusting the Lord for our own baby bird.
Thanks for saying the things I struggle to get out most of the time. I feel like I have a friend understanding exactly how I feel, and it is such a great big comfort!!
Blessings to you and thanks for sharing your life with us.
Yzelle Swart
Ermelo, South Africa
Thank you so much Yzelle for leaving such a wonderful and encouraging comment. I am praying and believing RIGHT NOW that your womb will be filled with life and that no weapon formed against you shall prosper! xo
Beautiful…all of it. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us. I am having a sad, hopeless, unhappy week and this post speaks to me. I appreciate it so much.
ah girl! I am so sorry you were having a horrible week! We all have those times… I am praying that this week has been better for you.
This tugged at my heart strings BIG time… precious little goldilocks. You are making a huge impact on her life in so many ways.
Thank you so much Jessi! Hugs!
Beautiful. Breath-takingly beautiful! So thankfull for God’s extravagant love to each one of us. And blessings to you for showing that extravagant love to those around you. You are such a blessing! I look forward to every blog post and every fb status! Thanks for letting God use you in such a beautiful way!
Awe thank you Charlotte! I appreciate your sweet comment so much!
wow, her innocence and sweetness almost brought me to tears. This is such a beautiful story.
Thank you so much 😘
Praise God,
Such a great post and right on time.
Thank You Lord.
So thankful this post blessed and encouraged you tonight! Hugs!