Tomorrow will be a week since we have seen each other. I was suppose to have you last Thursday, but I didn't. Hopefully, soon, things will be in place that won't ever let a day that we are suppose to hang pass without it happening. Tonight I was just thinking about how much you grow in even just a week and how much that means I miss out on. I went back to some of your pictures and this picture I could't stop looking at. It seems like yesterday that your mommy and I were in the nursery spending our first evenings with you. You weren't born until 11:46pm, so it made for a really late night! It was super cold out, but late nights and cold weather were all just fine because you had arrived.
There is a really neat story behind this picture and the rest that came with it. At the hospital, when babies get to the nursery, they have photographers come in and take pics for and with the parents. So the gal came in, took our pics, and went to upload them to a web site where we and all of our family and friends could look at the pics and even order some if we wanted.
The photographer made her way back to us and I asked her about how much different types of photographs would cost. She gave us the pricing and then told us a story. And it was a super special story for a super special day.
There is something called "paying it forward". That means that people do something special for often random people in hopes that those people will then do something kind for a stranger. So after telling us her pricing, the girl said, "My boyfriend told me a really neat story the other day. He works at a Starbucks in Arlington and the other day more than 70 people paid it forward. That story really inspired me and I wanted to give you this." The girl then pulled out a disk with a bow wrapped around it and on the disc was all of your pictures. The disc usually cost more than $100, but she gave it to your mommy and me as a present, for free. It was such a sweet moment. And a perfect ending to our time at the hospital.
No matter what anyone tells you, Marlie, there are good people out there. And there are people that are hurting so bad and they just need a stranger to show them that there is still hope for humanity. I am really thankful for this stranger that gave your mommy and me this present and I pray that I can raise you to see the value in such a heart. Jesus loved everyone and even as the Son of God, He lived to serve and heal people that didn't even seem worthy at times. And although we are not Jesus Himself, we are made in His image and He has given us the ability to make lives better just by caring. I want to love you and care for you so strongly that your greatest desire is to do the same for others.
If I want to teach you anything today it is that you can choose to be a shining light on this earth. And that means that even when some people don't deserve it, we need to love them anyway because we do things all the time that hurt Jesus...but He will never stop loving us. I want to set an example for you that the way to the greatest life here on earth is to help other lives get better. I'll never stop loving you. You better never stop loving me. You are stuck with me! Let's not stop loving others together, k?
Well, I hear that I will get to see you while your mommy works on Tuesday :) I can't wait because I miss you to pieces. It was a long day for daddy today, so I am getting some rest. I love you from here to Pluto, Marlie Grace. See you soon.
Love,
Daddy
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