Granddaughter Ava Turns Four

 Ava signing "eat"

Our precious little granddaughter Ava in Kentucky turned four this last Wednesday.  Our daughter Michelle wrote a beautiful letter to her and published it on her Caring Bridges Page and I wanted to share it here with you.  

Dear Ava,

Today is a special day because today is your birthday.  Although you are only turning four, I find it hard to remember life without you.  From the moment I learned of your impending arrival, I decided that you would be an important addition.  You would be the salt; the essential ingredient that would balance out the flavor and complete our family. You have not met my expectations, however. My precious child, you have surpassed them!  You are not the salt, as I had hoped.  Instead, you are the sand.  Your influence, like that in the case of the oyster, has produced prized pearls.  By acting as the sand, our family has molded a pearl of courage, of humility, of gratitude, of self sacrifice, and of love.  In fact, each day your presence brings out the best that each of us has to offer and reveals treasures we never knew were there.

I know that your journey in life has been difficult for you in every way.  Considering the advantages bestowed on people around you, you might even consider your situation unfair.  Most people will waste their gifts, make insignificant impressions on those around them, and live hollow lives. They will see your broken body and fail to recognize your value. I want you to remember that your life has purpose. Remember that you are sand.

Daddy, Tristan, Amber, and I will forever cherish the pearls that you have given us, and the many more to come.  Happy Birthday baby girl! We love you.

The following is from my friend Connie who responded to Michelle with this wonderful encouragement :

I enjoyed your birthday message to Ava.  Because our purpose is to Glorify God, He gets to decide how.  If we don't keep our eyes on Him, we will come up with our own ideas of what will bring glory to God.  When He said His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts, He was telling us truth.  Because this is only our shaping and molding place, and not our final destination,  it can be hard to understand His purpose.  The more we spend time with Him, and in His Word, the easier it is to trust Him, and His way.  As a matter of fact, looking at Him gives us great joy, even in the hard places.  Remember it is from faith to faith; one day at a time.

The Lord Bless and keep you all.  Happy Birthday Ava!

Your Sister in Christ,
Connie Young