#1

Today I write for Mason.

What is there to say about Mase? Well, he's 3. Today my nephew turns 3 years old. What's the big deal? There are millions of three-year-olds in the world. Plenty of little boys who love Cars 2, wrestling with their daddies, and whipped cream. Plenty of mini-extroverts with good memories and a love of snuggling. What's the big deal about Mason?

For one thing, he's mine. My nephew. My firstborn nephew.

Never before and never again will I love someone quite the same as I love him.

On May 28, 2009 (after he sufficiently scared us to death and required an emergency C-section to get his little self out) when I first laid eyes on him, I said, "Oh, Mason Jeremiah, Jesus loves you so much." ... followed very quickly by ... "Oh my word, he looks like ME." And he did does. Since that day, my very first, very special nephew has owned a very large chunk of "A's" heart.

Mase is also special. He is an individual. There is no one else in history quite like him nor will there ever be. That's worth celebrating. I want to pause a moment and list the top 5 qualities that my little nephew embodies that I would like to celebrate today.

1. He loves his cousin. I have dreamed of the day that Calley and I would have children who would be COUSINS. There is nothing in the world quite like the bond that Cal and I have among our party of five (POF). We ADORE Joseph (Bubba Joe), Christen (Kissy-Fur), and Taylor (Mink). What a joy it is to see Mason ADORE his Baby John! It is even more fulfilling to see them interact and play together. And, oh how Boo Boo loves you, Mase!

2. He is so sensory. Change something up in a room, Mason will notice it. Lose something, Mason will find it. Leave something Mason wanted you to bring, he will not let you forget it. Keep sensing, Mase. My intuiting sister needs you!!

3. He gives the best squeezes. I can ask for any level of hug and he will deliver ... little squeeze, big squeeze, tight squeeze; oh, and he gives good kisses too!

4. He is a friend. Since Mase was a little guy wandering around Target with a babysitting aunt who lacked creativity/energy to pass the time (so we'd wave to everyone/anyone in the store:), Mase has been a people person. I can take him over to anybody's house and by the end of the night, he's captured their hearts, and they are forever in his. I pray that God will continue to develop Mason's heart for people that he might love them in the same way that Jesus loves.

5. He has imagination. I love to see him play with his cars while talking in character as each of them (Finn, Mater, Queen ... cars talk now, ya know? Don't believe me? Watch the movies.) I love to see him reenacting scenes from said movies: "I AM the bomb!" I love to watch him pretend to be kung-fu panda or a ninja turtle (though it is sometime hazardous to my health). Mase is so creative and smart!

He is also growing way too fast. Thus, I just wanted to take a few minutes out of my day to express what it feels like to watch him grow from afar.

It is painful.

I view Mason Jeremiah as #1. The first. The baby who opened up my mother's heart. (John opened up my womb; the capacity to love as a mother was first tapped into by my sweet nephew. Thanks, Mase.)

I want to be in his life more than I can be. It stinks to be so far away. I want to invest in Mason. I want to love him in tangible ways everyday.

How can I do this? What can I do to be invested?

For Mason's first birthday I made him a video documenting pictures from his first year. It was a fun little project. BUT as I was working on it I knew that I wanted Mason to be able to look back on the video and not just think of me as a doting aunt (which I was/am). I wanted him to know that I was an aunt deeply concerned/invested in his spiritual well-being.

The final words of this video read ...


Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:23-24

So, what can I do for Mason? To actively and daily be a part of his life. To invest in him and love him in tangible ways for afar.

What can I do? I can pray for him.

Mase, I end this post in your honor with a prayer for you. Happy Birthday, my wonderful nephew. I love you.

Father,

I love my nephew. Thank you for him. Thank you so much for him. I praise you because he is fearfully and wonderfully made. He displays your glory and your goodness to my family daily. You are so good to give him to us. Thank you.

Father, I ask for him tonight that he would experience every spiritual blessing found in Christ. I pray that he trust your Son for everything (salvation/forgiveness/peace/righteousness/provision/hardship/a wife/fruit/etc.) at a very young age. I pray that he and I will be partners in ministry from the day that he trusts Christ. I ask that he and John will be future running-mates in the faith. I ask this in Jesus' mighty name.

Father, I pray that you will send laborers into his little life to invest in him at every turn. I pray for MEN. REAL. MEN. Men who boldly proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom. Men who love their wives as Christ loves the Church. Men who sacrifice. Men who understand what it means to teach obedience to Jesus. I pray that these men will find my nephew. I pray that these men will initiate time with him. I ask you to use these men I am trusting you to send to Mason to labor with you to help him follow your Son. I ask this in Jesus' name.

Father, I pray that JESUS will be the obsession of Mason's life. NOT baseball. NOT girls. NOT four-wheelers. NOT beer. I pray against these distractions in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. I ask you, Jesus, to set yourself up as Lord in Mason's heart/mind/will. I ask this in your name, Jesus.

Father, I pray that you will give Mason a heart for people. I ask that you will teach him to love those who are hard to love. I ask that you will send him to hard places. (You know the specifics of that request.) I ask you to equip him and gift him by your Spirit as is necessary to build up the church in those places. I ask this in Jesus' name.

Father, I ask you to do it big in Mason's life. Make him tenacious for your Kingdom's sake. Bind the enemy from his midst (in Jesus' name, and by the power of Jesus' blood). Give him your Spirit, and the fruit that comes with Him (both character and people fruit). I pray that he will be able to look back at the end of his life and see disciples making disciples on every continent of planet Earth because of the influence that you give him on Earth. I also pray that UR peoples will assemble around your throne as a direct result of Mason's pursuit of you and your Kingdom.

We will praise you as you answer these requests.

I trust you with my nephew.

I love you, Father.

I pray all of this in the power of Jesus' name.

Amen.