Today is Malea’s 8th birthday so this post is going to be dedicated to her.
Last summer a friend of mine challenged me to sit down and write an essay about my husband and each of my daughters – what it is I see in them, what I love about them etc., so today as we celebrate Malea, I want to honor who she has become over the last eight years of her life and share some of what I wrote about her.
Malea is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She is loving, caring and sensitive to the needs of others. Watching her grow up, and seeing her love for others, has made me a better, more caring person.
From the time Malea was in my stomach God had big plans for her. He has called her to be a giraffe, an animal that can fill up with water and then go for days without drinking again, an animal that is deadly prey – just one kick from it’s powerful leg can crush the skull of a lion. I have seen this in Malea, even as a young girl, I can see how she can fill up on the Lord and then take His presence with her into dark/spiritually oppressed places. I have also seen her being burdened by the enemy but with one prayer, and rebuking the darkness, she breaks the darkness off and the enemy flees from her. I know that as she gets older these gifts will increase, I also know that the enemy’s attacks will get stronger, but I’m confident the light and the power of the Holy Spirit, in Malea, will be no match for the enemy’s schemes.
Malea is a creative, joyful little girl who enjoys all the fun care-free things that kids enjoy, like bike riding, dressing up, swimming, coloring, dancing, etc., but she is also a deep thinker and cares deeply about how others think and feel. She is very much an old soul and sometimes I forget that she is only 7 years old. At times she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders so I am continually reminding her to just have fun, relax and enjoy the moment. I think some of this comes from being an only child and being around a lot of adults (all our best friends don’t have kids), but I know some of it comes from the fact that God has made her so in tune to what is going on in the spiritual realm. Over time she will learn to fine tune the skill – to know what is hers to carry, and what is someone else’s stuff, and that she simply needs to pray for them.
There are so many things I love about Malea but I will list only a few of my favorites. I love the way she loves, and how deeply she loves. I hope that someday I can love the way she loves, so deeply, so genuinely and so wholeheartedly. I love her joy, it’s contagious and I’ve seen how she can light up a room, or cheer someone up when they are having a hard day. I love her creativity, even though sometimes it’s hard for me to accept, because often times it results in messes all over the house. I love the way her mind works and I love watching her create things. Whether it’s Lego structures, mermaid drawings, games with her stuffed animals or just random games she makes up, her mind is completely amazing and I’m in awe of her creativity! I love the way she loves the Lord and how she desires to read her Bible, learn scripture verses, and even be baptized at such a young age. She completely loves Him and I hope that I can help her cultivate that love, and help her grown in her passion for Him, as she gets older.
In summary, Malea is a very special child, with a huge calling on her life. I have had visions of her in dark places, carrying in The Light; I have heard the Lord say many times that “our ceiling will be her floor”, so I know she will do great things for the Kingdom.”
Malea’s love is special because it comes straight from the heart of the Father. When she shows you love, you feel God’s heart. Her love knows no bounds.
It doesn’t matter if you’re human, stuffed animal, cat, dog or any other creature, she will love you with all her might.
So as we celebrate her turning 8 today I want to say that I am so honored and humbled that I get to be her mom. When I look at her I’m blown away that the Lord would trust me to raise such a powerful young woman, it’s not a job I take lightly. I want to champion her into her future, stand behind her in love and support, and continually seek the Lord for wisdom on how to raise such a powerful warrior.
Happy birthday Malea!
If you missed Monday’s post about Malea’s prophetic dream, you need to read it – click HERE.
This is so beautiful and so true. We stand with you praying we will all be able to keep up with this amazing girl.