Good morning, Dear Siestas! We are still under reconstruction but it is taking longer than we hoped so we’re reopening comments until we get the heads-up that the switch really is about to take place. Thank you for your patience! I especially want those of you who have just now gotten your books and read your first three segments to be able to comment. Look back at last Thursday’s post and jump in there with us. Also expect your second week’s assignment tomorrow.
I wonder if I may beg your indulgence to be shamefully focused on one little person today. After all, I entered one of the happiest seasons of my life four years ago today. I’ve got a letter stirring in my heart that the recipient is way too young to read and probably won’t even see when he’s grown. We’ll have bigger fish to fry then. And if his Paw Paw has anything to do with it, those bigger fish really will have scales, slime, and fins. Still, a letter, because I can get some big feelings off my chest all the same. So, with your patience…
Dear Jackson Curtis Jones,
Today is your four year-old birthday! Yahoo! This is one of my favorite of all days! I have a few things I want to say to you, young man. Things you should be glad that I’m saying in print instead of in person since I’d probably bawl my head off and you’d find that pretty confusing. It will be a long time until you understand happy cries and, as the man you’ll surely one day be, you’ll probably never like them. All the same, you’ll have to put up with them to have women in your life. And, boy, do you have some women in your life. Mommy, Annabeth, Nana, Aunt Melissa, Aunt Lindsay, and me for family starters. Goodness knows, there’ll be more. Your mommy told me not long ago that she thought ahead about you getting your heart broken by a girl one day and got mad at her without even having a clue who she was or what she looked like. Woe be unto her. That’s all I can say. All six of us will be on her like mad, scratching cats.
But, back to today. Thank you, Jackson, for bringing a baby back into the life of someone drunk on babies. Thank you for reciprocating the happy love I felt for you by reaching your plump little hands out toward me by the time you were four months old. Thank you for a wild enthusiasm for life that has awakened every soul in your company. For things like pumping your fist in the air after we said “Amen” to grace over burgers. Jesus loves that. I’d also like to thank you for naming me Bibby. I just love it. Who would ever have thought of such a name but you? Thank you for saying it so many times. Thank you for being the reason why I found an old purse in the closet the other day that had a pull-up in it. (A clean one, thank goodness.) It sure has been a while since you needed a pull-up, hasn’t it? Mommy is so happy about that.
Thank you for bringing me a world of Hot Wheels and for teaching me how to race and how to make sounds like motors. Thank you for the love you’ve engendered in my heart for your lizard named Bernie. Thank you for bringing “Fruit by the Foot” back into my cupboard. For innumerable rounds of hide and seek and for the memory of the first time you really did count to ten before you said, “Ready or not! Here I come!” Thank you for giggling so loud wherever you hid that I always knew where not to look so we could make the game go a good, long time. Thank you for loving to be at Pappaw Keith’s and Bibby’s house here in Houston and at Nana and Pappaw Steve’s house in Missouri. You are a boy who has loved his grandparents and we are all four so much the better for it.
Thank you for the carseat in the back of my SUV and for crawling into it so often. Thank you for loving music and telling me to “turn it up, Bibby!” and for specially requesting David Crowder. Thank you for all the theological insights I’ve gained from your interpretations of the Bible stories your dad tells you. Thank you for wanting to grow up to be just like him and for actually putting it to words. He is a giant in your eyes…and in ours. Thank you for being firstborn to my firstborn. For making expressions that look just like her when she was your age. Thank you for thinking she’s so beautiful. I do, too. Thank you for helping her discover that she was really wonderful at something she’d never aspired to as a girl growing up. She actually planned to take care of animals. Not children. I will always find great amusement in the fact that yours was the first diaper she ever changed. To say you have changed her life in return is the biggest understatement we could make today.
Thank you for being the best big brother ever and to what is sure to become the next in a line of consummate drama queens. She adores you. She’s tougher than she would have been without you. And that’s a good thing.
Thank you, Jackson, for four of the most exciting, love-flooded years of my life. You, like your Mommy, your Aunt Melissa, your Sister and your Pappaw, have shoved your way into my every conscious thought.
We have waited all our lives for you, little Man-child. You were worth every second of it.
Happy Birthday, Jackson Jones. I’m playing hooky from work to play with you today. Let’s go buy a swing set!
I love you,
Bibby
lbabylee 
Sweetest letter ever! I love it! Happy Birthday Jackson!
Ok. I wrote my boys letters when they were born but why did I stop there? Birthday letters – such a great idea Beth! And a gift from your heart that no amount of money could buy. I've got some letters to write to a couple of boys now — thanks to you! 🙂
All this talk about the deep, indescribable love we have for our children/grandchildren is really helping me understand Christ's love for me in a way I've always wanted to get to. I was saved at the age of 9 and at 43 I'm still trying to really understand and feel God's unconditional love – the way I've heard Beth talk about it and live it for so long. I know in my head Jesus loves me (I've grown up in church and have heard it all my life and I believe it) but this particular post and all the comments (yes, I think I read every one!) have really helped me go to a new level with my Lord. I'm reminded of the verse that says something like . . .If we being sinners know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more does our heavenly Father know how to give good gifts to us – Matt 7:11. Having two sons, 10 & 14, my heart loves like I never knew it could – that Mama bear kind of love that would cause me to do absolutely anything to protect my children. I know exactly how Amanda feels – I was just thinking the other day about how sensitive my firstborn is and how easily his heart could be broken by a girl. I feel my blood pressure going up just thinking about it. How must our Lord feel when his children are hurt or wronged? If I being such an imperfect, flawed parent so adore and love my children that I want to eat them up . . . how much more does my perfect, holy, righteous Father love and adore me!
When I read that letter my first response was . . .oh how precious is that . . . and what an amazing gift you have of being able to effectively capture the heart's feelings and put them into words. Never did I realize God was going to get personal and teach me something about me and Him! So like Him though, isn't it.
Thank you seistas for all the sweet, honest sharing and thank you God for using this blog to teach me from others' personal stories and experiences and giving me another glimpse of Your glory and the gracious, lavish love you have for us.
Why is it so hard to get something from your head to your heart? Maybe I've got some insecurities? Ya think? LOL! Better get back to reading and less blabbing!
We NEED pictures of this accomplishment….it's not everyday you reach 4 years old!!
And being the oldest myself, I can SO identify with Jackson…bless his heart…he is just so adorable!!
Happy fourth Birthday Jackson!
Happy Birthday Jackson. Bibby, ty for sharing. Not so long ago, as I was digging in boxes, I came across a letter my son, whom is 33 now, wrote me when he was 10, and let me tell you, there is nothing that is as sentimental as that letter. I promise Jackson will cherish this letter for all his days.
Thank you for sharing.
My children are 27 and 31 but I am going to start writing them birthday letters. I will do the same for my grandchildren as well but am most excited about my adult children's letters. When my father died 2-1/2 years ago I found myself, at age 59, feeling like an orphan even though I know I am God's child. I wish I had saved letters from my parents so I would have their words on paper to savor. I hope my children will forgive me for being 'sappy!'
Thank you, Beth, for sharing that wonderful letter to Action Jackson on his new birthday bike!
You're awesome, Bibby!
Happy Happy Birthday, Jackson!
Happy Birthday Jackson!
My Christopher has his 4th birthday today (19th) !
Praying both of our boys grow to be awesome men of God that serve him with every fiber of their body, souls and minds! HUGS!
LoL my older brother was born on this day tooo….so AB and I have something in common…LoL I know I'm pitiful…
Hope you had a Happy God-blessed Birthday Jackson.
That is the most precious thing I have ever heard a grandmother write about her grandchild. Jackson is so blessed to have such a loving, Christ-centered family. Happy 4th birthday Jackson!
Oh, if he doesn't ever cry over this, it's okay. Some nut in Nebraska just did. Happy Birthday Jackson! Love to you and your awesome Bibby! 4 is SO big! You are so cool!
xoxo
I want to say 1st Happy Belated Birthday Jackson!! I KNOW you had an awesome day!!!
To Beth (Biddy),
I am writing this with tears running down my face. I love this letter and imagine it would've been one my mother would have written to my son when he was 4. Thank you so much for letting me live through you and your girls, what it would've been like to have my mother here to love every second of my kids lives. I know she would've had the joy and tears you have with your grand children. Thank you for being transparent in the public eye at how much you adore your daughters and grandchildren and even the guys that adore those daughters of yours and last but not least that MAN of yours. I hope you don't mind me living vicariously through you and your girls for I'm sure it would've been the type of relationship I would have had with my mother if she were here today. I love ya Beth!!
Rhea
Leslie
Early 30's(gotta say early)
divorced(ouch)
Maui, Hawaii.
O my goodness. Fisrt off-Thank you. It is so easy to watch your videos and do your bible studies and think "someday, I'll be like Beth-someday I won't battle this girl in my head, if I could just…then I'll be free". Girl, we are so alike already. I so appreciate your honesty/vulnerability-esp the story about walking in front of Keith in your cute outfit. It helps to know that I am not alone in the crazy that lives in my head. And how awesome to have a book that addresses the crazy!!!! Thanks for being authentic-like you said in your When Godly People study-that is what the church needs authenticity. Thanks for letting God burn the fake out of ya!!!
1. PFP-if I were thinner then…(the list was so helpful becuase I'm so vain I didn't know there were other options. It was good to see what other peoples were so you can love them batter)
2.To let the HEALTHY UTTERLY WHOLE and COMPLETELY SECURE part of us increasingly OVERTAKE our earthen vessels intil it DRIVES our every EMOTION, REACTION and RELATIONSHip.
3. The statement-Nothing makes a woman battle insecurity more than the feeling she can't give her guy what he wants. Everytime someone says the story of Jacob and Rachel is so romatic I just want to vomit. All I can think is poor Leah and really poor Rachel.
Leslie
Early 30's(gotta say early)
divorced(ouch)
Maui, Hawaii.
O my goodness. Fisrt off-Thank you. It is so easy to watch your videos and do your bible studies and think "someday, I'll be like Beth-someday I won't battle this girl in my head, if I could just…then I'll be free". Girl, we are so alike already. I so appreciate your honesty/vulnerability-esp the story about walking in front of Keith in your cute outfit. It helps to know that I am not alone in the crazy that lives in my head. And how awesome to have a book that addresses the crazy!!!! Thanks for being authentic-like you said in your When Godly People study-that is what the church needs authenticity. Thanks for letting God burn the fake out of ya!!!
1. PFP-if I were thinner then…(the list was so helpful becuase I'm so vain I didn't know there were other options. It was good to see what other peoples were so you can love them batter)
2.To let the HEALTHY UTTERLY WHOLE and COMPLETELY SECURE part of us increasingly OVERTAKE our earthen vessels intil it DRIVES our every EMOTION, REACTION and RELATIONSHip.
3. The statement-Nothing makes a woman battle insecurity more than the feeling she can't give her guy what he wants. Everytime someone says the story of Jacob and Rachel is so romatic I just want to vomit. All I can think is poor Leah and really poor Rachel.
My son celebrated his 19th birthday on Feb. 17th–time flies.
Pam
NC
50s
married
Well!! Just praise the Lord!!! Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. (NLT) – Happy Birthday Jackson!!
What beautiful words to bless a beautiful little boy (I'm sure he's beautiful if he's your grandson, Beth!) What a lovely gift to give this little guy: a letter full of love and blessing.
Thanks for your inspiration, Beth, and your beautiful heart for God. I am inspired by you daily!
What a beautiful letter!
I am sure it will be treasured forever!
Happy Birthday to Jackson!
Beth, I am doing A Woman's Heart with my group at church right now. Last Thursday we watched the video where you announced Jackson's birth to the whole group and showed his sweet face. I believe you are still as smitten today as you were that day four years ago! Those babies are so lucky to have such a loving, doting Bibby.
Happy 4th anniversary of your grandmother-hood!
Oh my goodness – that just made me cry and smile all at the same time
Probably because I can see my little guys in Jackson
My guys are just a few steps ahead of him and already I wonder how they are so much older than 4 – sigh!!!
Time flies
Jackson is so blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful family 🙂
May God continue to bless his life and give Jackson the passion to be a mighty warrior for Him!!!!
Much love
Kim
I have been offline for awhile so I am just now catching up and reading this post. I want you to know that I think it is wonderful! I was adopted and my phenomenal mother writes me letters every year on the anniversary of the day my adoption was finalized (she calls it my "family day" since it is the day our family became complete). I have collected these letters all my life and even now read them when I need inspiration! God bless your beautiful family!
Oooh, how sweet! I know I'm a little late, but that's how I do things! He is a sweet little boy, but my little man, Jeremiah, is my favorite still! Even if he is a preteen and starting to lose his mind! And me, too.
You are such a sweet grandma. I have a lump in my throat trying to hold back the tears!