A Birthday Wish

Today is your birthday
and we can't help but think of you
Wondering what you're doing
and your dreams that will come true ~
A special day full of fun
for a boy who's turning eight,
As we send to you across the miles
a wish so very great.

We wish for you happiness
and all you could dream of
A life of peace so you'll never have
to live without love ~
Security in a stable home
without anger and hate
The ability to give beyond
for which nothing is as great.

The hope that one day you will be
a gentle loving man
Growing from your circumstances
to be the best you can ~
Always wanting to give lots of hugs
that's the sweetest part of you,
The little boy who loves a cuddle,
that's the boy we love and knew!

Though we haven't seen you since
your birthday last year
Not a day goes by that we don't miss
the boy who brought that cheer ~
And though we had some bad times too
the good always compensate
And we'll always miss the little boy
with the sweetest cheeky face!

Happy birthday to you, Matty,
may you always know the peace
For the love we always had for you
will never end or cease ~
May your greatest wish be yours
today, tomorrow and always,
For you deserve to have the joy
that is wished for your birthday.

© Christina
10th January, 2003

Dedicated to Matty (Matthew Jeffrey Smith).
"This poem is about my husband's youngest son, Matty, and is dedicated to him today, his 8th birthday.   This is the first year (again) that my husband has spent without his children, but this is the first year after we had contact with them, following the death of their mother.   On this day last year, this was the last time we had access/contact with two of my husband's children ~ being for Matty's birthday.   After which, both children decided not to have any contact with us, for reasons which aren't very clear to anyone, including the children.   Acting out of loyalty to their mother, their older brother and their grandmother, they felt the pressure, and although they didn't realise the full impact of their decision, they made this decision to cease contact with their father and myself.   It is a decision we have chosen to respect out of love for the children.
So today is Matty's 8th birthday, and it is a bittersweet day for my husband, who is feeling the grief of being without his children again, particularly after having contact with them again last year.   I too feel the grief, as Matty is a dear boy, whom I miss greatly.   I miss his cuddles, his lots of cuddles he loved to give, and his cheeky smiling face.   Most of all, I miss the joy he brought to my husband.

"Happy Birthday, Matty.    I love you ~ I always have and I always will….love your Dad"