Dear Zianne,
You’ve been able to clap for quite awhile now, but it still enchants me every time you do it. I watch your chubby little fingers come together while your face lights up and my whole heart fills with joy. You are just so genuinely happy and kind to everyone around you. You are even kind to yourself.
When the people around you delight you or impress you, you give your applause so generously. When the big kids run around you at church or the childcare worker waves goodbye at the gym, you light up and… clap, clap, clap. When mom and dad do really fun stuff like dance around the kitchen or jump up and down to get you to smile for a picture… clap, clap, clap. Swim in the pool? Clap. Read a book? Clap. Sing “Happy Birthday” to a friend? Clap.
And you’re not afraid to clap for yourself either. When we cheer you on for reaching or scooting or throwing your ball for the first time, you always have time to stop and give yourself a round of applause. We exclaim “Good job, Zianne!” as you show off your new skills each day, and you look at us with bright eyes and press your hands together… clap, clap, clap.
And sometimes your joy for the current moment results in your applause. No one has to do anything impressive; you just are thankful for your surroundings and you want everyone to know it. We tried to get a picture at your little friend’s birthday the other night. We piled a bunch of babies and toddlers on the couch and tried to snap a quick photo before the whining and crawling off the sofa ensued. Most of the other kids started squirming and fussing instantly, and there you sat at the end of the row with a smile on your face… clap, clap, clap.
I hope you never lose your clap, baby girl. I hope you are always quick to give your applause. I hope you lavish encouragement and praise on those around you. And I hope you clap for yourself too. You might not be perfect, and I don’t want you to be prideful, but when you do great things with your talents and gifts, I want you to smile and clap and give God the glory. And when you look around you, even as you grow older, I pray you see hope and love everywhere you go, that you find things to be thankful for even during trials, and that you find lasting joy that makes you clap your hands forever.
Clapping for you always,
Mama
||P.S. Read other letters to Zianne here.||
