(This toast was given at an awesome SNL-themed baby shower my dear friends threw for me back on November 1, 2014.)
Here ye, Here Ye-I would like to make a toast. Utter honor and excitement has filled my being since hearing word of this shower. I have felt a bit unworthy for such an unconventionally AMAZING shower. As I began to ponder ways to express my appreciation, hostess thank you gifts would just not do, so I thought, “Hmm, I shall write a speech; for nothing keeps a late-night party going like a powerful moment of prose!” As all of you know, I am a talker. I feel and share love the most through words, so in advance-you are welcome.
My heart overflows with gratitude towards the hostesses, to all of you, and the resiliently dynamic woman whom I call, “mom”.
To our fantastic hostesses, I proclaim, “THANK YOU!” These decorations, grub, games, invites and the numerous mind-blowingly creative brainstorming sessions led to a top notch night with friends that will be forever treasured.
ABBIE: To the band-nerd, Jesus-freak that lived across my hall freshman year, I say thank you. Your level of humility is a mismatch for the high level of wit and intellect that you possess. Your level of selfless compassion is second to none. I respect how emotionally invested you are in every conversation. Many times, I am not aware of my own feelings towards matters, until I notice you tearing up about them as I share. I pray to be half the helpful giver that you are.
Lindsay: My first real friend, my college roommate, and the one that truly deserves a party tonight for putting with me for four years. You have always had the uncanny ability to beautifully balance rest, work, and play while encouraging others to make a positive difference in their community. I have been learning from you for years. You create an adventure wherever you go. Thank you for always allowing me to tag along for the ride.
Lauren: The professional harda#$ with a heart-of-gold. Lauren. Gets. Stuff. Done. I admire the heck out of someone who can be such an intimidating, efficient presence in a business meeting one minute then giggling on the back of a crashing tube the next. I am so thankful for the similarities in our stories. To share the same “3/achiever” lens with you benefits me in my attempt to process my world. Thank you. Your skills in business/marketing are like magic tricks that will forever leve me stumped and in awe from the audience below.
Leah: Who knew two gals who labeled each other as “fake” nine year ago would grow such a life-giving professional and personal relationship. I am daily blessed by your boldness and lovingly prophetic voice. We are wired very differently. This makes for some complimentary dynamics at meetings. Thank you for reading my facial expressions so well, even when I think I am hiding my true opinion-you get me. You keep me humble while also empowering me to be me.
Now onto the rest of the guest –JUST KIDDING! I know we want to get back to the fun, so in closing, allow me to make seven more points.
I am so grateful that this is the time that God is blessing me with Henley June. I honestly feel all of our paths were meant to cross BEFORE I became a mother. In so many unique ways, you all have showered my life with wisdom, joy, and peace. It is this mighty community of women that I discovered my identity. You have each taught me to feel, to forgive, and to love. I hold a much more celebratory view of life because of the kindred spirits in this space. Thank you.
Your friendship has been one of God’s greatest gifts to me and I should have been paying you because it healed me more than therapy and self-help books. That’s right, I said it- this attempt at a whole person (plus 1) that stands before you tonight is mostly due to your healing friendship. Henley will have a much healthier and happier mother because of you. Thank you for allowing Christ to work through you in such a transformative way.
As the wise nun, who never had children, Joan Chitistter wrote, “Mothering has many aspects but two are central: birthing the child physically and caring for their needs once they’re born. But only one of these can be done by one woman. The rest can be shared by many and must be if we are all to be fully developed human beings. So within this village, child-raising is a creative endeavor; it is an art of many, it is an art rather than a science.”
Thus, let us raise our glasses to the babies of our wombs and the babies of our world. We toast tonight to all those who mothered us and the many ways we are privileged to mother others. CHEERS!