For my daughter, my first baby full of love and strength and light, on your nineteenth birthday, I wish you so much happiness. I wish you happiness in every form it can possibly take, from the physical to the spiritual, both fleeting and eternal. Here are nineteen wishes for you from your momma.
I wish you health and vitality, physical stamina and comfort
that carry you through any activity you choose.
(Thank you so much for inspiring me to run.)
I wish you a strong, healthy back and relief from allergies.
I wish you the confidence that comes from sensing your own magnetic beauty
without needing to diminish another’s. (You are so beautiful in every way.)
I wish you success in a million endeavors.
That you can earn all the money you want,
pursue any goal that crosses your fertile imagination,
and enjoy that strong, buoyant feeling of independence.
I wish healing for your Dad and with him.
I wish you peace in every direction you look.
That no bridges are ever burned unless it’s for your own protection,
that you see Love mending things on your behalf.
That your boundaries in this world are ever widening and stimulate your potential.
I wish you a lifetime of horses and all kinds of animal relationships.
Maybe even a career in this field if it’s your desire.
I wish you a never ending supply of drawing paper and pencils and paints.
And soft paintbrushes.
I wish you music that soothes you, music that motivates you,
and music that lifts your spirits.
I wish you miracles when you need to see them most,
so that you always remember God is near you and loves you.
And that His power is very real and far beyond what any of us can do for you.
I wish you healthy friendships of every variety, for every occasion in this wonderful life.
Lifelong friends, purely fun friends, supportive friends,
even friends who challenge you and help you polish off your rough edges.
Mostly I wish you a deep and abiding friendship with your sister.
I hope you travel. I hope you find ways to see the world while you are young,
explore places that move you, and find that place that clicks with your soul.
I hope you learn to cook extravagantly and can always feed yourself well,
infusing this necessary daily ritual with your artistic nature.
And I hope you always read good books. Let them transport you.
I wish for you deep and galvanized family bonds with all of your family.
I hope you never feel alone, always feel like you belong and are loved unconditionally.
I wish for you an incredible romantic adventure. True love.
Comfort, safety, and thrills that can only come with that rare and lasting relationship.
And I hope that even when I slip and say something that reveals
how you will always be my tiny little doe-eyed baby, you still understand
I see what a beautiful young woman you have become.
That I see you now as both a baby and a woman
and I will always love you, no matter what.
These are more than birthday wishes; these are my prayers for you as you step into an exciting new life chapter. Never forget how loved you are.
XOXOXO
momma