I’m sitting here, wondering what to write about Elijah, my littlest boy, on this fifth birthday of his.  And I find that words are failing me a bit.  Not that I don’t have things to say, I just don’t know how to put it all into words.  Elijah is unique in some of the best kinds of ways.  His natural bent is to wear his heart on his sleeve – he pours out love to those around him and he longs for others to pour out love to him. The vulnerability of his heart exposed means that hurts come easily, too, though, and so he’s started reserving his affection at times and putting up defenses rather than letting his heart be seen.

In all honesty, I worry sometimes that he will become jaded or cynical for lack of understanding that not everyone functions the way he does.  Many of our “disciplinary” conversations lately have been explanations about loving people regardless of whether they seem to love you back, in the hopes that he won’t let his predisposition to encourage and help and value others give way to only treating others the way he sees them treating him.  All that said, he does still give praise liberally, he does practically burst with joy and affection when he is treated with even a small measure of kindness in almost any scenario, he does want to always be a part of what anyone else is doing, just because he loves people.

As a five year old, there are obviously many other areas where there is room to grow, but there are strengths that are emerging and becoming more noticeable, too.  He is quick to forgive.  He is strong and capable at many tasks.  He is persistent and very determined when he wants to figure something out.  He notices details and asks insightful questions.  He remembers every name he hears and greets others exuberantly.  If Tim or I are going anywhere…shopping, errands, whatever…he always makes sure to hug us before we go, and is excited to see us the moment we return.

I have felt more loved by Elijah than by any of my other children, and have been more convicted and challenged by his affection, praise and encouragement than by any other person, ever.  I am so thankful for this boy of ours, who bears the image of his Maker in such clear and purposeful ways.  My prayer is that he will learn to let his heart stay vulnerable and to trust in the protection and worth that can be found only by abiding in Christ, and that God would pour His love through Elijah into this world desperate to see what love without condition really is.  And I hope that this day, as we celebrate his five years, he will know that he is so precious, and so loved, and such a special, irreplaceable part of our lives.