Many of you probably know, but I have a niece who I haven’t met yet because I’ve been on the race. Well I wrote her this letter, knowing she couldn’t read it for quite a few years. I thought I’d share it as a blog.
Dear Max,
I found myself thinking about you this morning. Probably because I’m so gosh darn excited to meet you in a few weeks. Can you believe that your own aunt waited 9 months to meet you? Trust me. It wasn’t easy. I was thinking back to the day you were born, Dec. 2nd, 2017. I know that isn’t your birthday, but I was in Romania, so you were born a day later according to my time zone. Anyway, I remember sitting in a tiny little room at 5am in the freezing cold as your Oma told me who you were. And I wish I could describe to you the love I felt for you in that instant. As my eyes filled with tears, I couldn’t believe that you would make such a lasting impression on me. And I hadn’t even seen your face yet. But you did. You impacted me. That morning, I realized something. I realized that I won’t be the only person you impact in your life. I realized that the Lord so clearly created you to carry influence. To be an example, a role model. Max, He created you for a purpose, His purpose. And I can’t stinkin wait to help you seek that purpose. I can‘t wait to share Jesus with you. To worship Him with you and to pray to Him with you.
Max, did you know that the Lord has already used you to bring His Kingdom on this earth? You were the reason I started believing in the power of prayer. Yeah, you. The day you were born, I was upset that I couldn’t be there. I couldn’t be there to laugh when Aunt Abbey said, “Chels, she kinda looks like us.” I couldn’t hold you. It was so hard. And since I couldn’t be there physically, I knew that I could be there spiritually. The only thing I could do for you was pray. So I did. I prayed that you would sleep through the night. I prayed that your transition into the world would be smooth. That the Lord would protect you always. That He would strengthen you and grow you into the woman He called you to be. The more time I spent praying, the more I believed that the Lord was listening to my every word. I believe that He will protect you, that He will strengthen you, and He will grow you into who He wants you to be. And because I started believing that the Lord would answer my prayers for you, I started praying with more power and authority for the people I’ve met around the world. Max, He’s heard my every prayer, and He’s answered. I’ve seen bodies be healed, people come to Christ, rain fall, and fundraising money come in because I confidently asked for those things in prayer. All because YOU gave me a reason to start believing in prayer. So Max, you carry influence. There will be times when you won’t think that, but I will always be here to affirm that you do. I will gladly help bring you to remembrance of what the Lord has done in your life.
Sweet girl, I love you so much. I can’t wait to be with you. I promise that I will do my very best to represent Christ. I promise to love Him more so that I can love you more. I promise to be there for you when you need prayer. When you need advice. And when you need to be spoiled a little bit. I can confidently speak for Aunt Abbey and I when I say that we will always be there to point you toward Jesus. Because we 110% believe that He has incredible plans for you. Don’t ever forget that.
I love you, Maxine Avery Casady. See you so soon!
Through Him,
Aunt Chelsea
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:14-19
This is my favorite niece with my favorite dog, Emmit.
Apparently, she looks like Abbey and me…
