Celebrating The Day of Q's Birth!

It probably won't surprise anyone to hear that I am not really into celebrations. At least, not the kind that entail a great deal of planning and frill and fuss. In part it is probably because I am a bit lazy, no doubt, but I hope no one would call me a Scrooge. Primarily, it stems from my very heartfelt attempts to adhere to the call in Matthew - and yes, it even applies to birthdays. *"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

What I am into is celebrating the gift of Life on birth days! And my treasure is found with my heart, which is found in Thailand today with my oldest son. When he came into our lives, I would repeatedly refer to him as a blessing, before I truly even understood what that word meant. He has always been so. I sit here now and start and stop and erase what I write, over and over, not satisfied with my attempts to put words to what is in my heart. I do not think it really is possible. How do I capture the pride that is mine to know that this young man is my son? What words are there for my appreciation of the gift he has given me in sharing his vulnerabilities, struggles, failures, and successes? Who knows the joy it is to trust your child all through his years? He has always encouraged us with love, enlarged our assessments with wisdom, and assured us of his respect and esteem. The tears in my eyes as I consider all he is to us must stand as silent and deep testimony. I borrow Paul's words because they are our very own as well.

**Quentin, you yourself are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on the tablet of your human heart. Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Your father and I were the Lord's instruments to bring you into this world, and we will always be eternally grateful for the privilege to be called your's. Greater joy is our's as the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon you the sweetness of eternal life with Christ in all its generous abundance. Happy, Happy Birthday, Q! Our hearts rejoice over you this day!

* Matthew 6:18-21

**2 Corinthians 3:2-6