My darling Lilli…when you get to be as old as your Mimmie, you might start to realize there are things you wish you’d said more intentionally to your own kids, a long time ago; or, at the very least, had just said them better. I heard once that grandchildren can be a kind of “do-over.” I don’t agree with that entirely, for you are not mine to raise, day in and day out. However, because I am removed from the constancy of your daily care, I think those things that need saying can rise more easily, and with greater clarity, to the top of my heart. It’s my hope that this letter (and the ones to follow in years to come) will help make your life’s road a little easier to travel.

Well sweetheart, today you are two years old. My mind can’t even fathom it, and yet, I just spent 10 days with you, and listened to you talk a mile a minute, watched you run like a big girl, and marveled at how quickly you learned to use the potty.

You are a sweet little girl, very polite, saying please and thank you, almost without fail. You genuinely love people and easily dissolve into delightful giggles. While you know what you want, and can flare up with a quick temper, it is also quick to dissolve. You are at an age of complete trust in those you love and total belief in what we say and do.

While there will always be a selfish part of me that wants to hold you back to the tiny little person you are, the one who lifts up her hands and says “I hug you, Mimmie,” and carefully lays her blanket and head in the crook of my neck, and says “sing” before nap time, I would never want you not to grow. I would never want you to stay babyish in your ways and not mature into who you were created to be. You were created for a specific purpose, Sunshine, and the events of your life will be stepping stones to its fulfillment. I’m excited to watch it play out.

But what I find that I can’t bear to see diminish is your exquisite innocence. There is a part of me that would like to whisk you off to live in a bubble, where the world, and its talons, couldn’t reach you. But I know that’s not possible. I can’t stop your eyes from seeing things they should never see, or your ears from hearing things they should never hear. In fact, by the time you read this, your mind will likely already have these fingerprints of the world all over it.

In spite of all that, however, it’s possible to maintain some innocence. After all, we are not of this world. We are just passing through, on our way Home. We are never really supposed to settle in and “do as the natives do.” Trust me when I tell you it will only lead to extreme heartache if you do.

TRUST. ME.

How can you do that, you ask? Well, this is what God has to say about it:

…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things…and the God of peace will be with you.

It’s all about what you put in your mind. THAT’S what keeps us set apart and maintaining some innocence in this crazy ol’ world. If you can keep your mind set on the good…the TRUTH…you’ll be right where God can help you fulfill your special purpose.

You are not mine to raise, my darling, but I do have some responsibility toward you, as your Mimmie. It’s my privilege to promise you a few things on this second anniversary of your birth:

• I will always pray for you. I always have and I always will.
• I will always listen to you.
• I will always be honest with you, and if I promise you something, I will fulfill it, unless I find that I made that promise in error, and it would ultimately do you more harm than good.
• When we are together, I will do everything in my power to create a positive atmosphere that will encourage you, and hopefully fill your mind with the things that God says will help you maintain some innocence and peace in your life.
• I will diligently try to show you the love of Jesus through my own love for you.

And, in my own way, maybe I can provide a bit of a “bubble,” after all.

Your Mimmie loves you, birthday girl…as big as the sky.