Things I Hope My Daughter Knows By Now

My first born turns 13 today. There are things I'm grateful this bright soul knows how to do already. She can ride a bike, swim and dive. She cheers loudly when the Seahawks play. She reads. Lots and lots of reading. She's always game to try new foods. She can cook better than her mom. She can rock a jazz solo. 

There are a few things I'm hoping she knows by now.  Harder to pin down.  So here you are baby girl.  Things I hope you know:  

You are loved. Every bit of you. All the time. Nothing  you can do can increase it or decrease it. You are loved because God made you. You are loved because you are ours. The love you have from God and from us is secure. You can count on it on the good days and the bad. 

You have power. Power to make the world a better place.  Or a worse one. You actually get to decide. Your smile and your friendship and your spunk are gifts you can use to encourage friends, to win over enemies and to pave paths for others to thrive.  Sometimes power looks like doing the dishes when no one is watching. Sometimes it looks like saying sorry. Sometimes it looks like standing beside the kid no one likes. Sometimes it looks like standing alone.  But you have power. 

We are proud of you. Amazed at how you face the world head on. Proud of how you willingly take a stage, welcome new people, face hardship and remain tender. Nothing in the world can make your dad and I smile like watching you and your sister.  Proud.   

You are allowed to change your mind.  You have the right to quit things.  You can stop when its too hard or you just aren't sure. We're first born driven parents of you, our first born driven child. So we tend to push. And you push yourself. Mostly that's a good thing. But on your 13th birthday I want you to know that sometimes saying nope, nada, I'm done or no thanks are perfectly good responses in life.  You aren't perfect and you don't have to be.  No one is. 

You aren't ever alone. You have tons of fans in your corner. Friends and family and we'll all line up at your side.  And I hope you know even on the bad days when it seems like friends and family have disappeared you still aren't alone.  Jesus has you in his hands.  All the time. Never alone. 

You my love are the toughest kid I know. I'm proud of your cheerful spirit even when you've had tough things thrown your way. You know how to persevere. The ability to bounce back will serve you well.  I've learned how to do so better in my life because of watching you.  Nice job. Thank you. 

I hope you know how stinking cute you are.  The freckles kill me.  I hope you know not to compare your body to anyone else. God made you and them differently on purpose. Your value and your appearance aren't good or bad based on what magazines say. Your value isn't defined by how many likes you get or what any social media platform is trending. Your value isn't based on how many friends you have online - or how many friends you have in the real world.  (Although friends in the real world are infinitely more valuable than friends online) Your value is based on your status as a child of the Creator. Period. 

Happy Birthday my girl.  We love you.