Happy 40-something Birthday!

Happy 40-something older than I am

(but much, much younger than the Princess)

Birthday!


October 19, 196?

Happy Birthday!

Amy,

I remember the night I first met you. You came with the Princess to a Bible Study at my house. Or maybe you just met her there. Anyway, you came. Through the years since you’ve become family to me because any sister of the Princess is a sister of mine.

You’ve made me laugh. Apparently the witty gene spilled over. Alas, the Princess did not hog it all and leave the other Rice sisters dry. You’ve made me cry. In sharing some of your writings, you not only revealed your ability to pen your thoughts, but your intimate struggles as well.

I’ve watched you from afar as you’ve wrestled and struggled all the while trying to help those in need. I’ve seen your heart’s desire to reach out to others. Your joy could almost be heard through your words posted. Your pain and frustration felt as well.

My Sister, I wish that for your birthday, I could wrap all of the answers to your heart’s questions in a small box that you could hold close to your heart. I would tie it with ribbon finer than your favorite thing (You know the thing.). But I don’t know the answers. I don’t have the right words.

But we both know Who does.

I remember reading an amazing analogy of chasing after God. Like a little girl chasing after Daddy only to have him turn and catch her, Daddy God is always ready with open arms to scoop us up. I sometimes wonder if His swiftness to gather us up and twirl us in the air is in direct proportion to our determination to run after Him.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:

but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philipians 3:12-14

Amy, no one has ever chased you like He has. No one has ever longed for you to continually chase after Him than Christ. You know this. I’m sure of that. But do you know that when the little girl gets bruised and scraped along the way—even when it’s because she took a short cut along the path—she can still run with open arms to find Daddy waiting, longing even, to scoop her up? No more hiding. No more trying to fix the mess she made. Then, when the healing comes, she’s able to reach out again to other little girls who have forgotten the same thing. And somewhere, in the midst of their hurt, I’ll bet she’ll make them laugh.

Keep on keeping on, Amy. When you’re tired and weary we’ll be praying you through so that next time, you might do it for us.

Happy Birthday, Amy!

I love you more than Diet Coke!

Rena

P.S.

We both know the Hokey Pokey isn’t REALLY what it’s all about.