Matthews 1st Birthday - 26th September 2007

The box is always more fun than the actual present.

Opening presents in Nature's Valley

Matt's birthday cap

Matt's birthday swim in Nature's Valley Lagoon

Matt's birthday celebration in Kirstenbosch Gardens

Cuddle time with his uncle, Kennet

Play time with Mormor (Danish for Grandmother)

Fun piggy back rides

Happy to be one years old!

On his Father's shoulders

I was spending time with some friends who have children the same age as Matt. I love to see how they grow and discover the world. Yet there is a tiny part of me that wishes Matt could do the same things that they can. I was trying to describe this feeling to Lloyd – “It’s like Matt is running a race at his school. All the parents are sitting in the stands watching the end of the race. The children come running in, a tight finish, everyone holds their breath to see who wins. But someone is missing; one child hasn’t finished the race. And then there comes little Matt – running determinedly, but slowly. Everyone watches as he crosses the finish line way after all the other children.” Lloyd was quick to point out that Matt isn’t running in that race - in fact there is no competition between him and other children. I knew this with my head, but my heart needed something more in order to remove the ache of seeing one’s child come last.

A few days later I was praying with a friend of mine, and God gave me a very clear picture. The same scene – the race at the school, parents on the stands, children crossing the finish line, where is our little boy? And then Matt rounds the corner – this time not alone – but riding on the shoulders of Jesus. Matthew’s face is bright with joy. Jesus’ eyes shining with laughter. Neither very concerned about the race at all. I felt God saying “Jax, I have Matt just where I want him, He’s with me and that’s all that counts”

Again God’s peace removed the ache.

Every time I see little Matt enjoying the ride on his father’s shoulders it reminds me that he is also riding his Father’s shoulders.

Love

The Bible says that if we have not LOVE then we are nothing

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13: 1-7

nothing
nothing
We are nothing without love

It does not say if we learn to crawl long after most children crawl we are nothing
It does not say if we struggle to learn how to speak we are nothing
It does not say if we grow up dependent on others we are nothing

No it says if we have not LOVE then we are nothing

This is helping us to free ourselves from worrying about Matt's development.
Rather, our goal is to let Matthew know he is LOVED
And to help him unlock the deep well of LOVE that God has placed in his heart...

For then he will have LOVE and he will be something