On the Night You Were Born

On my lovely day off from life, I spent 5 hours in Borders, and ended up finding two of the sweetest children's books. One is called "You're All My Favorites" and it talks about how each child is the parents' favorites. "You're my favorite first baby bear" and etc. But my new favorite is called "On the Night You Were Born" and this is how it goes:

On the night you were born,

the moon smiled with such wonder

that the stars peeked in to see you

and the night wind whispered,

"Life will never be the same."

Because there had never been anyone like you...

ever in the world.

So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain

that they whispered the sound of your wonderful name.

The sound of your name is a magical one.

Let's say it out loud before we go on.

It sailed through the farmland high on the breeze...

Over the ocean...

And through the trees...

Until everyone heard it and everyone knew

of the one and only ever you.

Not once had there been such eyes, such a nose,

such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes.

In fact, I think I'll count to three

so you can wiggle your toes for me.

When the polar bears heard, they danced until dawn.

From faraway places, the geese flew home.

The moon stayed up until morning next day.

And none of the ladybugs flew away.

So whenever you doubt just how special you are

and you wonder who loves you, how much and how far,

listen for geese honking on high in the sky,

(They're singing a song to remember you by.)

Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo.

(It's because they've been dancing all night for you!)

Or drift off to sleep to the sound of the wind.

(Listen closely...it's whispering your name again!)

If the moon stays up until morning one day,

or a ladybug lands and decides to stay,

or a little bird sits at your window awhile,

it's because they're all hoping to see you smile...

For never before in story or rhyme

(not even once upon a time)

has the world ever known a you, my friend,

and it never will, not ever again...

Heaven blew every trumpet

and played every horn

on the wonderful, marvelous

night you were born.

The book is written by Nancy Tillman and is beautifully illustrated. If you have the chance to pick it up, do it. I bought the board book version because that holds up a little better around this house. I love that the story teaches kids that there is nobody else in the world just like them, we are all unique and wonderful creatures, made by God. In fact, the book references a scripture at the end--"For you are fearfully and wonderfully made..." (Psalm 139).