Monkey Business
Blog | Family | Growing Pains
Today Elizabeth will celebrate her eleventh birthday at church camp. For the second year running, my firstborn girl opted to spend her special day at one of her very favorite places. And though selfishly I’d love to have her all to myself on this nostalgic day, I’m thrilled that my Jesus-loving-girl wants to spend her birthday surrounded by crazy counselors who love Him, too.
As Lizzy packed her bags over the weekend, I pondered how I could best acknowledge her birthday from afar. Finally I decided to send an “I love you” through a third party, a green and white sock monkey named Stripes, to be exact. I’m smiling as I imagine Lizzy receiving the package at mail call today, and I’m grateful for the chance to share my heart with my not-so-little girl in a not-so-embarrassing way. Of course, I’m not responsible for the embarrassing things she has to do to receive that cheery package. I hope she’s been working on her dance moves, because I hear that performing the cha-cha in front of the entire dining hall is a sure-fire way to earn your mail at camp!
Here’s the message I asked Stripes to deliver…
Dear Lizzy,
My name is Stripes and I’ve traveled for TWO DAYS in this cramped and stuffy box just to reach you in time to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I sure hope you don’t plan to stuff me back in a box again. I’d love to see the light of day again. And a few hugs might be nice, too.
Before I was dropped in the mailbox, I was sitting on the coffee table in the living room just waiting for my journey to begin. Early in the morning, I overheard your mom praying for you. I know, I know, polite monkeys don’t eavesdrop, but what was I to do? Where can a sock monkey go when he’s stuck in a dark, quiet box?
I think your Mom loves you an awful lot. She sure was thanking God for you. She told Him that you were one of the BEST GIFTS He’d ever given to her and she asked Him to fill your life with joy. She praised Him for creating you to be such a special young girl- bursting with kindness and creativity, confidence and hope. She said that your faith inspired her and your laughter made her days brighter. She asked Jesus to help you love Him a little more each day and she prayed that you would delight in Him, so that in return, He would give you the desires of your heart.
It sounds like you are one of your mom’s favorite girls! After hearing her pray, I just couldn’t wait to meet you. I could use a friend like you.
Oh, yeah, your mom asked me to give you a HUG, so stretch out your arms and pull me close. Go ahead, I know you want to… just SOCK me with your best squeeze. (Sorry, bad joke)!
Well, I hope this is just the beginning of many happy birthdays we’ll spend together.
You’re buddy,
STRIPES
