Dear Mattias,
From the day you were born, you have filled my heart with joy. I have watched in awe these last two years as you have grown, explored the world, made discoveries. You have brought such huge smiles to our faces and have added a measure of fun mischief to our little family. From the time we knew you were coming, I've been praying for you and the boy you would be, the man you would become. It has been awesome to watch that boy emerge over these last two years.
From an early age you demonstrated a love for music that I hope will always be true of you and I hope it is a love we can share for years to come. You love the rhythm and begin to bounce and dance at the first note. You are so much fun to watch as your face lights up!
Mattias, you have always demonstrated a gentle compassion for others and a love for your family. You are always ready with a hug. You comfort people who are hurting and sometimes your little lower lip quivers as you feel sadness for someone. Your sweet spirit has been evident as you have reached for your big brothers hand while running up and down the hall or reaching over scratch his back while we're snuggling to watch a movie. Those little things you do for others fill me. I pray you will always have that compassion, that sweet spot for others. It is a quality that honors God and that He will use to minister to and reach people.
You look with adoring eyes at your daddy and your brother, trying to do everything they do. Now that you you are beginning to talk more, we frequently here, "Me!" or "Hep!" (help) as you seek to do the same things we are doing and to help us in our tasks. You are a good helper, willing to do whatever you can (and sometimes what you can't) when we have work to do.
Sweet boy, you have a belly laugh that is enviable and it comes easily. A funny face, a little dance party, jumping on the bed, kiss attack; these are the kinds of things that bring out that wonderful laugh and brings a smile and a laugh to anyone who hears it. I hope you will hold onto that easy laughter throughout your life; it will serve you and so many others well.
'Tias, you have an ability to focus that is beyond your years. I love to watch you when we're at the Children's Museum, you stand and play and splash at the water table for hours. Or pouring water back and forth from bowl to bowl. You were mesmerized and so was I.
I pray for you. I pray for wisdom and maturity as you grow. I pray that you will continue to demonstrate the sensitivity to spiritual things that you have shown so far. I pray with you each night that you will know and follow God. I pray that you will have an impact on your world. I pray that you will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I pray for your friendships. I pray for your wife. I pray for the boy/teen/man you are and will be; God has created you and he has a hope and a purpose for it. I pray you will live that purpose boldly.
Mattias, I love you. I am so proud of you; and I always will be. Even though I thought I was an experienced parent when you came along, you have taught me so much -- not only about being a parent, but about myself and my relationship with God. I have learned in a deeper way what it means to entrust the things I love to God. I have memorized new Bible verses as you ask me to repeat more and more of them from our Bible study each week. I have become more aware of my own shortcomings as I seek to parent you and your brother each day.
My dear, mischievous boy. I am so honored to be your mom. I love your smile, the twinkle in our eye when you "know." I love each moment I've spent with you. The laughter, the cuddles, The kissy face you make. I have so many hopes for you. I hope you will be a man of intelligence, a man of compassion, of integrity. A boy who treats others with kindness, with compassion, with generosity. I hope you will be a student who pursues knowledge, because learning is fun and it challenges us to grow. I pray that you will be a person who is patient, slow to anger and quick to forgive. Those are powerful qualities in this world and pray them for you because I believe God wants them for you, too.
Happy birthday, Mattias. I love you so much. Keep living life with the joy you have. Keep laughing, keep loving. Seek God always, with all that you are. Live boldly. I love you and I always will.
Love,
Mommy
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