It's my child's birthday

Today is Bryan's 30th birthday. 

Several years ago Mom-of-Bryan [MOB] sent me this from an 

Ann Landers column. Her mother had given it to her back in 

1980 [the year of Bryan's first birthday] and MOB had carried 

it in her wallet until it fell apart so the beginning of it is 

missing.

...child we adopted will celebrate a first birthday then.

Amidst the joy and preparation of adoptive parents, people 

have a tendency to forget the heartache that was suffered by 

the birth mother when she parted with her child.

This poem is a reminder to all adoptive parents everywhere 

that a very big price was paid by a selfless woman who gave 

up her precious baby so he or she could have a better life.

                                        - Please no name or state, Just Grateful

A BIRTHDAY

It's my child's birthday

He just went dashing by

His eyes are sparkling with the excitement meant only for today.

Presents, kisses, hugs, cake, ice cream

It all seems so natural.

It's a day of looking back and looking forward.

But there is something different happening inside of me.

This should be a day of complete joy

A day of thanksgiving

But in the midst of all this excitement

I pause because my thoughts are about someone 

else for a time.

It's my child's birthday

I have no memories of his life growing inside me and 

fighting to be released.

Another someone was there

Another someone suffered for my joy.

It's my child's birthday

But someone somewhere is feeling emptiness inside,

I'm sure she is wondering what he looks like

If he is big or small

Wondering if he laughs much

It's my child's birthday

And in the midst of this blessed day that was given to me,

I have a prayer,

Oh, God, that I may never forget that someone suffered 

so much to give life to my child. 

That someone loved my child so very much that she gave 

him the right to live. 

May I never forget for a moment and especially now, today, to 

offer a prayer of thanks for someone, and that you, dear God, 

will always be there for that someone to help her through the 

hurts she will have when she stops to think that 

'Today is my child's birthday'. 

Amen.

Thank you MOB, I love you.