‘Dana’ – Bright as Day

Dear Dana

in less than 24 hours, you’ll be turning  6.  As I tuck you into bed and gaze at your angelic little face, I can’t help but be overwhelmed by bitter sweet emotions as you excitedly count down to your 6th birthday…

Many people see you as a confident little girl, good-nature and outgoing (sometimes too outspoken, that teachers wish you would be quieter so that others can have a chance to speak up). We would chastise and remind you daily to ‘listen and obey’, ‘exercise self-control’…only to wonder if we are stifling your carefree-ness and force you into conformity from preschool age. Because of your independence, we sometimes forget you are only a child, still trying to make sense of the world, yet we expect so much discipline and submission from you…

You love to sing and it always warms my heart when you and Daddy break into duets in car rides or at the piano. Aunty Pearl (Mommy’s friend) once commented you have a beautiful singing voice and you were chuffed! I am constantly amazed too by your good memory of lyrics. Of late, you’ve started belting out catchy pop songs (from boybands like One Connection) which baffles us because this is a genre that we’ve not exposed you to. Guess peer influence really start young huh?

You crave for positions of leadership and responsibility, be it passing the offering bag in Sunday school or simple household chores like setting the dinner table. You look forward to going to school on Mondays because it’s the day where you are the group leader, in charge of collecting stationery for your group mates. You take great pride when Chinese teacher appoints you as the “小老师” of the class. It amuses us that a small duty like this can give you so much satisfaction…

You inherited Mommy’s love for baking, Daddy’s passion for photography and our common weakness for all things sweet. You are also a hardy traveller and it is heartening when we hear you speak fondly of the many special trips we have brought you on since your very first flight (to Melbourne at 8 months old)…

You are a perceptive little girl, displaying a level of maturity higher than kids your age. You have an uncanny ability to use words to persuade, influence and justify – Daddy thinks you’ll make a good lawyer but secretly he wishes that you can help fulfill his childhood dream to be a pilot or an archeologist. Mommy just want you to excel in whatever you love and we came to a conclusion that in future, if you do choose to be a homemaker, we’ll give you our full blessings. You know, we did not have any home support when you were born so we endeavor to be there for you when you have yours. For now, what we really want for you is to stay innocent and enjoy your childhood as long as possible…

You love to read and would pull a book out from the shelves automatically whenever there is a free pocket of time. Beginning this year, Daddy and I hatched a secret plan to get you started on simple chapter books and are stoked to see you hooked! The picture books and board books the likes of Eric Carle are slowly making way for more Enid Blytons and Geronimos. Interestingly, you also enjoy comics like Daddy because you both share an uncanny sense of humour. You also enjoy reading Chinese stories and Mommy promises I will be more diligent in reading them with you.

One of the reasons we feel bittersweet is because as you grow older, we will not be able to shield you from the world…pressurizing demands from school (and subsequently word), disappointments, betrayals and rejection from friends and disillusionment with life. But God reminds us time and again, that our lives on earth are borrowed time – that we are to be sojourners with a mission, grounded in God’s promises and living each day by faith. So in the same faith, we release you to God, knowing that He who gave you to us loves you more than we do. And His plans for you are good and perfect. Sometimes Mommy’s faith is smaller than a mustard seed you know…I guess the more precious something is, the harder it is for us to let go…

There are some regrets that contributed to the bittersweet feelings….Mommy couldn’t breastfeed you, didn’t home-school you, couldn’t send and receive you from school daily and rarely craft or do girly stuff with you. But you my girl, you didn’t hold any of these against me. Every morning, as I see you happily skipping your way to the porch to wait for the school bus, my heart overflows with gratitude. We’re grateful that despite all my inadequacies as a Mom, you grow up to be such a happy and beautiful girl. We truly are blessed and grateful to have you in our lives.

So as you turn 6, I pray you will continue in wisdom, humility and stature. May your heart be pure and teachable. May you experience God in a deeper level as a 6 year old. May you always remember that no matter how old you are, you will always be our pride and joy. Happy Birthday, my daughter. Let the celebrations begin!

But my God shall meet all your needs, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 4:19

XoXo,
Mommy