Dearest sweet Mya, my teenage daughter, “I’m so glad we live in a world where there are Octobers”. I’ve so enjoyed putting together your Anne of Green Gables movie birthday party with Olivia, Aria and Jenna; and watching Miss Congeniality (your first PG13 movie!) with you to celebrate. Thank you for sharing your birthday weekend with Matt and Diana’s visit even if you did not know them, and picking Daruma for your birthday dinner.
I’m ever so thankful to God that you’re ours, and we get the
front row seat to watch how God is growing you. Your big and small questions
about theology, politics and the world, love for your friends and youth group, desire
to volunteer whether to the little cubbies or elderly or for the earth, willingness
to pray, and deep empathy… I love the heart that He’s forming in you. I know
that there will be some lessons that will just have to be learnt the hard way,
and roads that you’ll have to travel for Him to get you there. It is my prayer
that He’ll make you His and you’ll make Him yours, no matter what.
I know we put you through the ringer – being one of the very
few in your circles for not having a phone, encouraging you audition for the
school play only not to be cast, going to places and events where you’d rather
not be at, wanting you to try something different every year (the Young Writer’s
conference, what will the life of a wrestling manager be like?)… You’ve risen
to every occasion, well almost. Dare to be different my dear girl, the world
will want you to be like it, your heart that seeks approval will want to just
fit in. But there’s too much at stake to just go with the flow. Stand on the
firm foundation of Christ, stick to your convictions of what’s true and right;
and fight for justice and love, then intentionally “become all things to all
people, so that by all means we might save some… for the sake of the
gospel” (1 Cor 9:22-23)
You’ve read more fiction books than I ever have and wrote
many exciting essays (the suspense-filled fairy folk) that rolled the socks off
your teachers. You’ve introduced me to new things that I otherwise would not
have enjoyed. Whether it’s Jane Eyre or Persuasion, I love your thoughtful
choice of heroines. Thank you for making me read your Anne books – though I average
a miserly 1 a year, and re-experiencing Shakespeare! You also got me to know Corrie
Ten Boom more with your “Hiding Place” book club. You’re the “girl-friend” that
I get to do things with, whether it’s musicals like Les Miz or Hamilton, or concerts
like Ellie & Drew Holcomb (with the fam) or Steven Curtis Chapman (with
daddy), or fluffy rom-coms. I love your range for books, movies, songs,
pop-culture, etc. Keep experiencing what literature, the arts and culture have
to offer dear one, they’ll expand your
world and take you into worlds you otherwise would not have gone – even some
painful, dark ones. But keep finding the light in them! I hope we finish “Till we
have faces” this year!!
“I’m so glad I get to live in a world where there is my Mya Faith.” I love you so much, my precious daughter! We love you so very much,
our teenage queen.
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