Letter to My Birthday Baby Boy: 8 Years Old

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My Rushton Jeb,

    I can't believe you are EIGHT! It has been so much fun watching you grow this year. You've fallen in love with the sport of wresting and we love watching you do your thing! You got second at state, and got first place at every novice meet. You have the most kind-hearted, tender personality, but when you are on that mat you are a beast! You show amazing strength that's under control (like the work "meek" in the verse in Matthew), and you are so calm and collected. You are determined, and disciplined, and so responsible. You never complain about going to wrestling practice, and you give it all you've got at every practice and during every conditioning session. You weigh yourself and keep track of your weight, and you never have to be reminded to get your homework done. You're the first one dressed in the morning, and you rarely gripe or complain. You're such a joy, and your daddy and I love that we get to be your parents. 

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You're super smart, and you finished your "Math Masters" within the very first week. Your 1st grade teacher says you are reading on almost a 4th grade level and you're doing 3rd grade math. You are the fastest kid in your grade, and you were chosen to represent Grove in the Shawnee Little Olympics to run the 50 yard dash as the Grove mascot. You have lots of friends from many different circles...school, wrestling, baseball team, church...and everyone loves to hang out with you! You have a magnetic personality, with a quiet and sweet spirit, but you're also athletic, tough, and all-boy! 

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I'm starting to really notice this year just how much your personality is like your daddy's. You're cautious and hesitant until you figure something out completely, and then you are more confident and begin to thrive in a situation....whether it be sports, a new experience or skill, or a social situation. You love being outside and hanging out with Reid and the older boys, and they're good to let you tag along and join in on their shenanigans around the neighborhood. You love all sports and sports trivia, and we've nicknamed you "Sports Center" because you seriously know every sports fact - especially when it comes to basketball and basketball players! You love talking about Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaq, and you even got to go to a Thunder vs Bucks game for your birthday and watch Giannis play in floor seats!

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You like singing Kanye West songs with Reid, and playing 2K and hunting games on the XBOX. You love to collect basketball and football cards with Reid, and then organize them all and see how much they're worth. You also love watching YouTube videos and eating Chick-Fil-A and junk food! You hate dressing up and most of the time can be caught wearing sweat pants and a Champion shirt. One of my favorite things about you is your long, textured, wavy blonde hair and your big brown eyes. 

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This is my verse I've chosen for you for this year...

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Meekness... not weakness, but "strength under control"...like a well trained war horse or a wise warrior knowing when to draw his sword and when to keep it in his sheath.

One article explains that to be meek is to be gentle, humble, lowly. “The meek are the ‘gentle’… those who do not assert themselves over others in order to further their own agendas in their own strength, but who will nonetheless inherit the earth because they trust in God to direct the outcome of events.” (ESV Study Bible notes). And one commentary states – meek people don’t envy, don’t retaliate, and exercise patience in the face of adversity. 

My prayer for you is that you'll always possess Biblical meekness. That you will be strong and courageous, but also cautious, calm, and humble. 

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I love you so much and you will always be my baby boy - 

Mama