I am
finding some of the greatest joys in my children. I have always loved being a
mama, but adding five children to our family through adoption has shown me more
about God’s heart than any other adventure I’ve ever taken. Yesterday was one
of the most blessed days of my life!
Zeke was
having his first birthday party. No. He was not one-year-old. It was his
seventh birthday. It was his first birthday party.
It was the first time he had ever
received a birthday gift.
Zeke was
born in China and spent the first six years of his life in a large social
welfare institute. I fully believe he was cared for, but there was much of life
he had never experienced. He joined our family in March when he we
was six-years-old.
Zeke was
an onlooker at other birthday parties, never quite knowing what to expect. He
was not one of those children who anxiously hoped someone would allow him to
help open gifts, because he didn’t understand anything about gift-receiving.
Eight months after his homecoming, his brother Drew had a birthday party.
Having been to several birthday parties by this time, Zeke had some idea of what
to expect. It was not until he learned that his mama bought him a small gift,
too, that he joyfully anticipated the party.
I think he
opened his first gift ever the night of Drew’s birthday party. With stiff arms
and clenched fists, sheer excitement flooded his entire body as he tore into
the wrapping paper to find a Spider Man costume. Unknown to me, his Aunt
Bobbie, the best sister this Mama could ever ask for, brought him a gift, too!
Zeke would
frequently ask when his birthday was coming. We would show him the calendar,
and he quickly learned to tell people his birthday was in Jan-u-air. (His
birthday is estimated to be January 1st.) To help him better
understand, we let him know his birthday would be after Christmas. Can you
guess what happened on Christmas Day? He asked, “Is my birthday tomorrow?”
So
Christmas Day, we took a look at the calendar again. We talked about night time
and how many times he would go to sleep before his birthday party. He spent the
next week counting his sleeps until his birthday. The night before his party,
he was beaming as he lay in bed. I didn’t think he would ever fall asleep.
Party day
arrived, and very early in the morning, a Chinese monkey jumped in my bed. He
slid beside me for what I thought might be our usual cuddle time. But his body
was stiff. His excitement had taken mastery over EVERY muscle in his body. “It’s
my birthday!” he almost shouted in his morning whisper. We talked about the
tasks of the day, work that must be done to prepare for his party. He wasa not
able to hide his disappointment that it would be dark before his party began. I
showed him how to watch the clock for 6:00. He watched it all day. He would
ask, “Why 6 take-a so long?”
I chuckled
as I prepared to go shopping. He ordinarily does NOT like for me to leave the
house without him. There are two injustices he sees in such situations. One-he
is very attached to his mama and does not like it when she spends time away
from him. Two-he spent most of his life inside an institution. He does not
think it is fair if someone gets to leave the house and he doesn’t.
This day,
though, he had other ideas. He said, “You can go to this one town. And this one
town. And this one town,” meaning I could go to 3 stores I suppose. Then he
shouted, “And, you can bring me PRESENNNNNTTTTTTSSSS!!!!!”
When I
came home, he was not unlike every other seven-year-old on a birthday party. He
grabbed the Spider Man plates, cups, and napkins with a smile. He dressed and
beamed when his sister pinned on his Spider Man birthday badge. He squealed
like a girl when his big brother blew up his Spider Man center piece and put it
on the dining room table. I can say, though, I have NEVER seen a child so
excited over a birthday. NEVER. And I have seven children. With each gift that
came into the room his muscles grew more
and more tense with excitement. He counted and re-counted them. He shouted as
loud as he could, “It’s my birthdaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!” and “I have 9
presssssseeeeennnntttts!!!!”
When the
party officially began I called our family into the great room, big extended
family, getting ready to ask Grandpa to bless the meal. I swept my Zeke off his
feet and held him tight. The tears started to flow as I said to the family, “I
am so glad God have Zeke to us.” I could hardly contain my emotions long enough
to ask Grandpa to pray.
And, Zeke
waited patiently for supper to end before he opened his presents. He did NOT
open his presents like any other seven-year-old. He did NOT quickly tear
through each package. He opened each one and them SCREAMED its contents outloud
with his head tilted back and his voice filling the air. He wanted to open the
contents of the package and examine it before he proceeded to the next gift.
He blew
out his candle and delighted in his ice cream cake with the Power Ranger riding
a motorcycle on top. The Red Ranger, of course, because he IS the Red Ranger.
And, then
as my children, nieces, and nephews continued to play. My adult children and
family continued to rejoice. I suddenly found myself on stimulation overload. I
had to go outside and recalibrate my compass.
When the
party was over and all was calm, I reflected on the best birthday party I had
ever attended. The JOY! Not Zeke’s joy. My Joy! He had the best day of his
life, but I…..I took the road less travelled. I got to be the Mama. And that
made all the difference.
He climbed in bed with his mama this morning, with his arms stiff, and his fists clenched, "It's my birthday!!!"
He shouted with joy as each gift came in the door.
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When he opened his gifts, he shouted the contents of the package as soon as he saw it! His smile never left his face. He may have facial spasms tonight in his sleep.
It's My Birthday
It's a Jaguar Hat!!!!
Squinkies! I asked for Squinkies!!!!
Didn't Grandma choose the best shirt ever for this boy????
And, just in case you've missed my past shameless pursuasions........the road less travelled is one blessed road. Look at those lists of children available for adoption. Look into the faces of older boys. You could have a day just like mine!
