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November 2009 
Special Birthday Message for my niece, Rachel
Posted on Oct 3rd, 2007
by 
heemes
heemes
We have a custom in our family of honoring the kids who reach their 13th birthday with a book of transition, filled with quotes, bits of advice, and lots of love. Gotta remember the love! Anyway, here is my contribution to Rachel's book. Her birthday is this Sunday.
Dear Rachel,
Remember that game we used to play whenever we'd see each other or talk on the phone? I refer to it with friends as the "favorite" game.
It went something like this:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Uncle Paul: How's my favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite niece today?
Rachel: (explained how she was today)
Rachel: How's my favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite uncle today?
Uncle Paul: (explained how he was today)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While I know it can be very hurtful to others to focus too much on so-called favorites, I nevertheless cherish this game we used to play. But there is another layer, extremely valuable in my opinion, underneath this game that I would like you to focus on for the balance of your life. This valuable message came out of a "mis-hearing" I had when we were playing the "favorite" game on the phone.
I know you said "favorite", but what I heard was "savor it".
All those "savor it"s, repeated over and over, as we used to say to each other. My wish for you is the same as my wish for myself and everyone on the planet.
That you savor it.
This means that the more good things come into your life, you savor each and every moment of that experience, increasing the happiness, peace, and eternal sunshine that you already provide, bringing it all back to yourself in increased measure.
This also means that when sad times come (and they will for we are soft creatures), you also savor those as well. Why do I say this? It is just a suspicion, although I have some evidence from my own experience, that when we really get the lesson God provides through difficulties and sadness, that opportunity doesn't happen again. So we grow through the tears we cry like a plant grows from rain. This is what I mean by savoring the sad times.
Rachel, you are such a blessing to our family. I am glad to witness your transition from a little girl, leading on into the fine woman I'm sure you are well on your way to becoming. I love you as much as any father could love his daughter. Please accept my wishes for your life as you make your way into this world of ours.
In gratitude,
Uncle Paul
Dear Rachel,
Remember that game we used to play whenever we'd see each other or talk on the phone? I refer to it with friends as the "favorite" game.
It went something like this:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Uncle Paul: How's my favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite niece today?
Rachel: (explained how she was today)
Rachel: How's my favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite uncle today?
Uncle Paul: (explained how he was today)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While I know it can be very hurtful to others to focus too much on so-called favorites, I nevertheless cherish this game we used to play. But there is another layer, extremely valuable in my opinion, underneath this game that I would like you to focus on for the balance of your life. This valuable message came out of a "mis-hearing" I had when we were playing the "favorite" game on the phone.
I know you said "favorite", but what I heard was "savor it".
All those "savor it"s, repeated over and over, as we used to say to each other. My wish for you is the same as my wish for myself and everyone on the planet.
That you savor it.
This means that the more good things come into your life, you savor each and every moment of that experience, increasing the happiness, peace, and eternal sunshine that you already provide, bringing it all back to yourself in increased measure.
This also means that when sad times come (and they will for we are soft creatures), you also savor those as well. Why do I say this? It is just a suspicion, although I have some evidence from my own experience, that when we really get the lesson God provides through difficulties and sadness, that opportunity doesn't happen again. So we grow through the tears we cry like a plant grows from rain. This is what I mean by savoring the sad times.
Rachel, you are such a blessing to our family. I am glad to witness your transition from a little girl, leading on into the fine woman I'm sure you are well on your way to becoming. I love you as much as any father could love his daughter. Please accept my wishes for your life as you make your way into this world of ours.
In gratitude,
Uncle Paul
Access: Public
That is a fabulously beautiful tradition!!! Wow!
Just think about how much violence and idiotness could be prevented from errant “rites of passage” by doing something wonderful like this instead!
Something I feel should be incorporated more into our lives…giving the young people an alternative rite of passage…one that will be held forever…with Love ;-)
Thank You for sharing this! I'm going to start this tradition myself, within my family! ;-)
Thanks for the comment! If your family is anything like mine, your family is likely to be overwhelmed at the amount of love that comes out of this practice. We were all pretty much floored at how the young ones enjoyed this, because it seems too simple.
Maybe life is less complicated than I think it is.
Ah Jeez…I've missed it for my first “child” and I don't want to leave him out! So I'm going to do a total takeoff on this, and make it for the 18th birthday ;-)
My oldest will turn 18 in 8 months and gives me some time to gather up stuff!!!
Yep, thanks for the great idea! As a Cancerian, I love leaving legacies and all that, LOL ;-)
(This is going to be so fun to do! I'm excited! OMG, my baby will be an adult…yeah, I need time to reflect on this as well, LOL)
I enjoyed that Heemes. jen
Glad to provide something beyond religious/spiritual debate on Zaadz, Jen and Ariela.
Feedback is so good to receive; even negatives help me grow.
Paul
LOL, I know what you mean, Heemes!
I want to thank you for helping me (and my family) to grow ;-)
Great Ideas are so much more fun to talk about than debating beliefs. ;-)
Love to you and yours!
~Ariela
This is a beautiful message to your niece. I am sure that she truly treasures your relationship. We always find comfort in family. I feel this way about my grandfather; I do not believe that soulmates are limited to just romantic interests, but are representative of any kind of deep connection. For me, my grandfather is my soulmate and I very much respect the bond you share with your niece.