“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 NIV
Today I am thankful for my niece Casey, her entrance into this world changed my life forever. I haven’t written about her before because she doesn’t like me to write about her. She prefers her privacy. Today is different though, today is her birthday, a day I will be grateful for forever. I was living in Pennsylvania, on a college trip to New York City the day she was born. I did not get to meet her until Christmas. I instantly fell in love with her, I knew I had to move to Virginia. I wanted to be a part of her life, I didn’t want to miss a minute of it. I wanted to be her Aunt Margie. My aunt had meant so much to me, had been a part of my life from the start, I wanted Casey to have an aunt like I had. Of course, I had big shoes to fill and fell deeply short of them, but I tried.
I had managed to get on academic probation at the school I was attending the spring after Casey was born. I had to go in front of the academic review board at the end of the semester. They told me I would have to take summer classes to make up the classes I had failed, then I would be able to attend in the fall. I did as they said, making all A’s. When I went to register for my fall classes they told me I was not enrolled. I once again had to go in front of the academic review board. I will never forget that Tuesday. They now had a whole new list of requirements for me to follow, some I knew were impossible to keep. I looked those scholarly men and women in the eyes and said, “No thanks.” I’ll never forget the shocked look on their faces as I left the room. I went home, called my brother and told him I was moving in with him. I packed all I owned in green garbage bags, threw them in my old Chevy Cavalier and headed south on Thursday. Friday I began working two jobs to save for tuition to start school in January. I don’t know if I would have done that if it wouldn’t have been for Casey. She is the closest thing to a daughter the Lord has given me, and I’m grateful. She is Cody’s sister, his best friend. She motivated me to make a life change I desperately needed to make. God used her to get me where I am now.
I am grateful for Casey. I am grateful for our afternoon naps together when she was a toddler. I am thankful for the bike rides we took, the movies we saw, the fun we have had. I am grateful that because of her, my life changed forever. May her life be blessed in all she does, may our relationship always be close, may she never doubt the love God and I have for her.
Today I am thankful for Casey, my life change. What are you thankful for?
