Tuesday, May 06, 2008
A Birthday To Remember
We celebrated Gracie's 16th birthday today and I think it turned out very special for her. We always look for opportunities to make things very meaningful for our children and we think that honoring them on their special day is one way to show how much we treasure them. Our goal tonight was to make a spiritual impact on her heart that would always be remembered. Our children are a gift and blessing to us and we want them to know it. But, most of all, we want them to know the perfect, beautiful, sacrificing love of Christ.
Tonight we had dinner out--the Country Club--which was her choice of where to eat. We met my parents there and had a nice time together and a wonderful meal.
After dinner, we had a ceremony for Gracie in honor of her sweet 16 birthday. The ceremony consisted of 3 charges, or challenges, for her life. These charges came from scripture and we read a letter to her that explained all three of them as we gave her a gift for each of the three charges. They were:
1) Walk in Wisdom--We read these verses (Romans 16:19, Proverbs 8:33, Proverbs 13:20, and Proverbs 23:24), gave her the charge, and gave her a bouquet of fresh flowers. The charge emphasized being wise, being wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil, having wise(not foolish)companions, having God's wisdom, and listening to instruction.
2) Walk In Purity--We gave her the charge, read these verses (Ephesians 5:15-21 and Proverbs 3:5-7) and then her gift...a 3 stone diamond purity ring. My husband picked it out. He is always a good jewelry shopper! The 3 diamonds represent her commitment to God(the bigger stone in the middle), the next one represents her commitment to her family now by obeying and honoring her parents,loving her siblings, and doing what blesses others. The other stone represents her commitment of purity to her future husband. I wish I could post my husband's words to her on purity and what the three stones represent...but it was very personal...just know it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard.
3) Walk in newness of life...in a manner worthy of His calling. This one was my favorite...mainly because of the gift that went with it. We gave her the charge, read these verses (Romans 6:4 and Ephesians 4:17-24), and gave her a very wonderful gift. About 6 weeks ago I sent out a letter to people who have impacted her life for Christ. I asked them to write a letter of challenge for Gracie...to exhort her to walk in a manner worthy of God's call on her life, to live purely(mind, body and spirit), and to live for Christ each and every day. These sweet sweet folks all wrote such beautiful letters. I asked them all to do similar type letters and every single one emphasized different things, which was amazing! It was neat to read them as they came in. The letters are all full of scripture and godly challenges...no fluff stuff, just real Biblical standards given to her from people that she loves; Her youth pastor and his wife, her past small group leaders, young women who she looks up to that are in college,our worship pastor...just to name a few! We presented this to her in a green leather letter box. She was really surprised. Somehow, I managed to keep it all a secret, so she never knew anything about the letters! I think this will be a gift that will impact her life. Every time she reads these letters, she will be reminded of God's precious Word and that people love her and want God's best for her. What gift could be better than that? Afterall, we all have enough stuff...we have all the material things that we need...what we all really need is a relationship with Christ and have our minds drawn to that through God's Word. This is what we tried to do for her on her 16th birthday.
Here is an excerpt from our letter to her:
Gracie, as your parents, we have watched you grow in your relationship with the Lord. We pray that the desires of your heart are for the things that are pleasing to God...things that are pure, things that are lovely, things that are honorable, things that are right. We know these desires come from the Lord convicting your heart at a young age to live for Him and walk in His ways. We see you doing that and want to encourage you to continue on--persevering to the end. There will be times when you are tempted to go your own way or follow the crowd, thinking God's ways are too hard or feeling pressure to conform to the world's ways. It is at this first feeling of temptation that you should go to God's Word for help and strength to do what is right. It is only through God's grace on us that we would choose the narrow path anyway.
Happy Birthday, sweet girl! You are loved and treasured by us!
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
34 Comments:
wow...that really sounds like a beautiful evening kim. i know she will treasure those letters! thank you for sharing and encouraging us, and showing us ways to exhort our children to grow in Christ. especially me with younger children...it's exciting to see godly teens who love the Lord and their family.
What a fun special evening! My parents did the EXACT same thing for me when I graduated high school by presenting me with a book of wisdom from so many different people in my life. Each one wrote on different topics. It is amazing and I still read and treasure it today.
How special! That sounds like an amazing evening. Love the letter idea!
What a beautiful celebration of a beautiful girl!
Happy Birthday Gracie!
We have done something very similar with our daughters.
I love the thought of it being a charge/challenge. And I also love that you have kept it within the family.
OH MY! That is amazing! Can I have your permission to use that in 10 year when my first one gets to 16 (or something in that format).
What a beautiful memory it will all be for you and your daugther! And something to look forward to for the rest of your children......what will you give your son?
You are an inspiration for me!
In HIM -
Mindy
Just beautiful! Your words, your daughter and your hopes for her future!
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing her day with us!
What a God honoring evening!!! Gracie will NEVER forget her Sweet 16th Birthday.
We did a very similar event for our Ashley when she turned 13. To this day (she will be 20 this year) she STILL wears her promise ring, and has EXTREMELY high morals when it comes to young men.
God TRULY honors, and blesses a parent...who teaches their children to honor and bless him.
Blessings to you.
Kim~
How beautiful! Truly a birthday that won't be forgotten. You guys make the most significant celebrations. It amazes me. I wish I would have had your creativity as the kids grew instead of getting caught up in the whole friends party thing.
This was absolutely beautiful. Something I hope to use with my childre one day. I learn lots from your blog on sheperding a childs heart. Thank you for sharing.
This is going in my birthday party file. I've thought of that letter idea for my husband's fortieth birthday(several years away), but that is wonderful for this birthday too.
what a special time with your daughter and your family. I love getting great ideas of how to mark milestones with our children in a way that centers around Christ. Thanks for sharing your night with us!
We did the book of letters when our daughter graduated from 8th grade. I made them into a CM album and I know it is something she treasures! Just like Gracie will. We also did the letter from her dad and me when we did our "passport to purity" weekend. Her dad also made her a CD of special songs. I hope this is something she will always treasure! Happy Birthday again!
I love all of the gifts/charges. I have completed several 'letter books' for people through the years (youth/my brother's 40th birthday), but I cannot wait to do one for my own daughter at 16. (Well, yes I can wait - she'll be 16 soon enough). I love the ring idea. Just perfect for her age and a beautiful reminder for her to look at and remember.
Thank you for sharing. You and your husband are doing such a beautiful job raising your daughter to live a pure and virtuous life!
This was just beautiful. I don't even know you but you inspire me to be a good Mom (I have a 7 mo. old baby girl). I am going to hang onto your ideas. Blessings!
How amazing and fun! I am sure that your daughter is beautiful on the inside, but all I know of her is her outer beauty. She is so completely breath-taking! Blessings on you and your family.
; )
What FABULOUS ideas! Thank you for sharing them with us! It certainly sounds like it was an evening Gracie will remember and treasure forever.
Mindy---Absolutely you have my permission...you don't need my permission, though! That is why I posted this...we all love our children and want to be teaching and training them in God's ways...we can help eachother out by getting ideas from one another! I know I have learned a lot from other people and have learned from things I have read or watched other parents do...we can come along side eachother and encourage eachother! That is what my blog is all about!!!
What a special evening! I loved what you did-every aspect of it. I truly will be something she can recall, think about, read the letters and know that there are not only her Mom and Dad, but so many other good people who all want the same things for her. I too will tuck this away for future reference for when my two grow up.
I want you to know I tell everyone I know about your blog. I always come away spiritually enriched with a new thought, book suggestion or have learned something from what you have shared. Thank you!
simply amazing!
i'm speechless...
What a beautiful, unforgettable celebration you created for your daughter.
Please forgive me for being the one lone voice of criticism, but I'm a bit bothered by the materialism of the diamond ring. Did you consider other symbols of purity that were not so conspicuously commercial?
It is so incredibly wonderful to see parents that take these issues seriously in todays world. Our children are fighting battles that we couldn't even imagine when we were growing up. Thank you so very much for sharing this incredible evening and gifts with such Biblical guidance for her life. May God honor, bless and keep your precious daughter in the palm of his hand as she chooses her paths ahead.
Happy Birthday Gracie! What an incredible young woman she is becoming. How blessed she is to have two parents who "shepherd her heart." That was inspirational to read. It makes Dallas and I even more aware of the blessing that children are, and the importance to continually seek to train our children in the ways of the Lord. How great it is to receive this wisdom prior to God blessing us with children. Thank you for this post!
God Bless!
Leigh
That was beautiful and sounded so special! Your children are so blessed to have parents such as you.....
So special Kim! This sort of thing is so dear to me and I would love to do something similar. Making a mark on your child's heart with something as beautiful as scripture is priceless.
Happy Birthday Gracie!
Susan Carrier,
That wasn't really criticism...just a legitimate question. My husband looked at many rings...his final decision was that he wanted the ring to be most like an engagement ring that her future husband will replace at some point. This particular ring was on sale and less expensive even than some other non diamond ones...so it was not a decision based on the status of it being diamonds, but more on what ring my husband liked the best and was the best price for the piece of jewelry.
Thanks for the question!
What a beautiful night and a special birthday. I hope to so something like that for my daughters Char
What a blessing! Happy Birthday to your daughter!
Oh Wow! That was all so beautiful! I am in tears! Thank you so much for sharing!
Katie
What a lovely, special birthday. Happy Birthday, Gracie!
I can't believe that it's been sixteen years since I babysat little Gracie at your house on Cottonwood. We watched Barnie! I also remember taking Gracie to McDonald's after Abagail was born. And at 9 Gracie stood by me as a junior bridesmaid. Happy Birthday sweet Gracie!!!
Jayme
May your girl continue to seek hard after the Lord!
What beautiful ideas you have when it comes to raising your children. Thank you for sharing them. I hope that I can tuck them away for the future.
Gracie is beautiful, just like her Mommy!
Happy 16th!!! May she always remember who she is and whose she is.
Lisa
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