Thankful

John David, 

You were a surprise to us, no doubt;

but I can't even try to figure out

what life would be like without you here.

I'd rather not. I'll spare the tears

and ponder instead, this Thanksgiving Day,

all the joy that you've brought our way.

There are tears as I think on this -

but hardly those of any sadness -

but rather these tears are tears of joy

that God gave us YOU as our little boy.

I would not trade you for all others in the world - 

I would not even trade you for a little girl!

I cannot even begin to describe

all of the joy that I feel inside

when you wake each morning and I come to you

and look into your eyes of blue 

and see the joy on your own face

as I pick you up to embrace

and kiss your warm, soft, precious cheek

and imagine how our day will be 

filled with new memories and fun. . . 

Oh, I count my blessings one by one!

And this I do on Thanksgiving Day,

though we are very far away 

from family and loved ones dear,

I give thanks that you and your daddy are near.

And as long as God wills us on this earth to be

I'll make it may aim to try to see

His hand of providence and grace 

as I intently seek His smiling face

in whatever circumstances come our way, 

I'll pray for grace to trust each day.

And in those that we now face,

God is pouring out his grace 

and is holding us in a place of rest

as we lean upon His providence.

John David, your Daddy and I want to be

good stewards of our little boy, you see,

for one day you will grow up tall 

and we desire for you to be all 

that God made you to be from the start.

We pray that He will capture your heart

and grow you into a godly man,

to fear His name and trust His hand.

So, as your parents, we are thankful

for all you are and all you'll be for

we know God has great plans in store.

We pray for grace to see each door

that His hand closes and those He opens wide; 

we pray that in His presence we will abide

and walk intimately with Him.

In His hands we place you once again

and ask Him to have His will

as we watch and wait and are still,

knowing that He is sovereign God

and wherever He wills, our feet will trod.  

We want to do what's best for you 

and trust God's hand to see us through

whatever our next steps may be,

we will watch expectantly,

knowing that God is in control - 

may we rejoice and His name extol. 

So on this Thanksgiving Day

we will thank God for His sufficient grace

and for giving us the gift of YOU

and the assurance that He will see you through

and make you into who He wants you to be

as He quiets our hearts, as He whispers "Trust Me." 

I'm so privileged to be YOUR mother.  I love you.