Happy Birthday Marlo!

"Many women have done wonderful things, 

   but you've outclassed them all!"

   The woman to be admired and praised 

   is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

Give her everything she deserves! 

   Festoon her life with praises!

(Proverbs 31:29-31, MSG)

Today we celebrate the day that Marlo was born for the first time.   On that day, the LORD knew where she would be and what she would need on this day. And the amazing thing is - He also knew what I would need and our kids would need on this day and has been weaving all our stories together in the most perfect way.  It was all on purpose.  There are no surprises with God, no mistakes.  God has never said "Uh-Oh" or "Oops, Sorry."   When you make as many mistakes and detours and goof-ups as I have, it's hard to identify with that.  When you've lived large portions of your life 'in-the-dark', it's hard to comprehend the kind of Person who is always in the light.  So, over time, you have to learn to trust Him.  

And if He gives you someone to walk through life with, someone to laugh with, cry with, ask questions with, get angry with, fight with, love with - then you thank the LORD - He's been doubly good to you.  So, thanks, Lord, for giving me what I needed.  Help me give her what she needs from me today and every other day we're together on this earth.  Help me give her 'everything she deserves."  Help me 'festoon her life with praises!'  

Marlo - let me go on record to say:  Next to following Jesus, marrying you was the best decision I ever made.  If I had to go back and do it all over again, I would.  All of it? All of it.   

I'll close with these lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman's "What I Really Want to Say" -- 

I say I love you, I say I need you
I try so many ways to say how my heart beats for you
I say I'm always thinking about you
There's no way I'd want to face this life without you
And even though these words come from deep inside me
There's so much more I don't have the words to say
 
'Cause what I really want to say
Is what the sun would say to the sky
For giving it a place to come alive
But my words get in the way
Of what I really want to say

I know that sometimes my words can be as hard as stone
And sometimes my words have left you feeling so alone
So please forgive me and hear the words I'm saying now
I will spend my whole life looking for a way somehow
To let you know just how precious you are to me
I'll use the best words I know but I still won't say it all

It's like a tale too great to be told
It's something that my heart can only show
I'm gonna take my whole life
Just to let you know
What I really want to say

Grace & Peace,
Richard