ungrind: Dear Daughter on Your 30th Birthday

30thbirthday

By Christina Holder

Dear Daughter,

I know you aren't pleased with Me, but give Me just a few minutes of your time. I wrote this letter especially for you.

Beloved Daughter, today is a day I celebrate and cherish. Thirty years ago today, I brought you into this world.

You were a plump babe back then with your little feet turned in at obtuse angles. You don't remember it, but you had to wear those tiny white casts. Your first shoes! Anyone seeing you then might have thought you would grow up to have trouble walking. But they didn't know -- no they didn't, but I did! I knew that you would not only walk but run on a path toward me.

And your eyes -- so dark and bright. You had such a full head of hair, as dark as the ink in Shakespeare's well. My daughter, you were beautiful. So beautiful.

And you are beautiful now.

I know you don't feel beautiful. You've gone through such trying times in your 20's. You've experienced real suffering. You've known real terror. I must say, I've felt honored and loved that you've turned to me during those difficult times.

I'm always here for you.

I've promised to wipe away every one of your tears. I've promised to never walk away from you. I've promised never to stop loving you. I don't break my promises, Daughter. Believe it today.

Now to why you aren't pleased with Me on your 30th birthday. I won't ignore it. Please keep reading a little more. I love you so much.

I know you feel alone. I know you wanted to be married long before now. I know you want to be a mother. I even know you've come to believe that you are the exception -- that all of your friends have been favored to find love and that you are the one who isn't. You've lost some of your idealism, some of your hope.

Daughter, I'm not leaving you behind. I really do have a wonderful plan for your life. You can trust me. Have I ever let you down? Come on now, be fair to your old dad.

I've never let you out of my eyesight. I've always been there for you, even when you were busy. I've never changed my mind about you. I have been redeeming the pain in your life and drawing you to Me since that amazing day 30 years ago today.

Daughter, I know you are frustrated and angry that I won't tell you if you'll get married. I'm your Father -- your loving Father -- and today, I need you to know that it's not the right time for you to know. You can trust Me on this one. I've never given you a stone, remember? I always feed you fish. Always. I love you, and I will always provide for you.

Beloved, I will tell you this: Whatever happens in your life -- whether you live it as a single woman or a married woman -- you will not be disappointed. I give hope that never disappoints. I'm not going to make your life just OK. You're never going to settle, child. You aren't going to be disappointed. I am your God, your Father, your life giver, your hope, the architect of your life, the doctor of your soul, your comfort of all comforts.

Please try to trust me. I love you, Daughter. I love you so much. You are beautiful, beloved, treasured, adored.

Daughter, you are 30 today. That's not old, beautiful child. Tell yourself that. Thirty isn't old.

My beautiful girl, happy birthday. Happy Birthday to you! Today is your day.

I love you.

Your Dad

To discuss this article, visit our blog, Fresh Brew.

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Christina Holder is a freelance writer based in Liberia, West Africa, where she is recording post-war stories five years after Liberia's brutal 14-year civil war. She is a former reporter for the Naples (Fla.) Daily News and a former reporter/researcher for syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak in Washington, D.C. She writes for the blog Beautifully Broken, which encourages women with God's promise to take their brokenness and to make it beautiful. Read more of Christina's Ungrind articles here.

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