A Letter to My Son on His 13th Birthday

Dear Justin,

Happy birthday! As you are turning 13 today and officially a teenager, I’m also celebrating my 13^th anniversary of motherhood.  And so, I read Psalm 13.

Psalm 13 started with the word “How long…”. 

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Psalm 13:1-2

David asked God how long he had to face his enemies and troubles. Life is full of questions of “how long,” isn’t it?

When you were an infant, and I had to get up every two hours to feed you, I asked, “how long will I be sleep-deprived?” 

When I heard you cry after being dropped off in daycare, I asked, “how long will it be for you to be able to go to school on your own?” 

And fast forward to now, I ask, “how long, Lord, will Justin like video games more than anything else? “
And  
“How long, Lord, will it be for Justin to realize that life is not just about being entertained and having fun? 

And my prayer for you is that – “Lord, may Justin experience your touch and unfailing love in his heart and that he can commit to following you out of his response to your amazing love and grace.”  

Life is not always sunshine and rainbow, and it will never be problem-free.  There will be different challenges you face at every stage of your life.  It can be both exciting and overwhelming as you enter your teenage years.  You get to enjoy the privilege of owning your social media account, and at the same time, you need to learn to be responsible and accountable for the content you share and the people you follow. This year, we celebrated your special day with a rocky road ice-cream cake because I know the road ahead can be rocky – for you as a teenager and for me as a mom. I pray that God will be our strength and help.  May He also lead you every step of your way and help you make the right and good choices. 

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
 for he has been good to me.

Psalm 13: 5-6

David’s psalms usually start with a sigh and end with a song.  Though he may not have found answers to his questions, he chose to rejoice in the Lord’s unfailing love and salvation.  God never promised a problem-free life for us, but He has been good to us.  His love and grace are always with us.  May you also learn to trust Him and choose to rejoice in Him and His goodness. 

Again, my gift for your every birthday is my prayer for your peers and your future better half (it’s never too early to pray for that, knowing how important this person will be for you in your life).  I know as you get older, you will want to be surrounded by your friends. And so, I pray that the Lord enfolds you with good friends who can support you, grow with you, and give you godly counsel.    

Happy birthday Justin!  Enjoy the ride and trust the Lord!

Love you!
Mommy ❤️