James Irvin Foreman! That Day--on 5/3/44--when you were born:

The sun's glow had a heart shape.

Water fountains danced and splashed higher, and more brightly. Their rainbows flashed brilliantly for this new little long-limbed boy.

Words waited patiently in their dictionaries for the ways that you would eventually give them structure.

Laughter was ready for whole new praise rhythms to be added to its repertoire.

Running got ready for a boy’s new fast winds.

Birds welcomed the new little whistler’s arias into their ecstatic praise.

Curiosity bloomed a yet unnamed flower.

Owls in their camouflaged trees said: “Whoooo?” And Jesus said: “Mine!”

Great cats just cuffed each other in grass-rolling play.

Flannel shirts were ready with new style statements in bright plaids.

Doggies wagged their tails to Mozart.

Verbs ran around expressionistically knowing that there would be a new one who would cherish them vibrantly.

Showing had its great and grand day--triumphant over explanation--when your mother held you to her breast.

Boxes folded up as they realized the uselessness of stereotyping.

Willfulness looked to heaven for its taming to assist the passionate little-one.

Study and learning felt the embrace coming. Wisdom had bright eyes!

Transience and shoddiness had to head to another wilderness.

Books started to smell even more of the perfume of great wonderment. Their little pages began to clap silently on shelves.

Poems found a heart in which to reside with glory-rhythms.

Song knew no season in the sheet music of your soul.

Painters found new shades of ochre for their sky scenes of hope.

Lonely and broken hearts stood waiting for a barefooted counselor, or at least one with holes in his shoes.

The moon looked for its friend, the late-night writer, and heaven sent the inspiration.

Play got new variations like some great rendition on a symphony, or a new ballet.

Libraries had their windows cleaned for more bright lights to shine through into the transformative cubicles.

Moving forward became a state of being. “Come and see!” Said the Master!

Waterfalls had their own anthems to the twirling dance of plunging waters.

The ocean knew that another of its shore-trampers had come to dream over its great mysterious depths.

The horizon rippled slightly with a sun-lilting pleasure

Kierkegaard got his poet.

Feathering, Frisky, Travis, LC, and a whole cast of others became fictional characters ready to go on great heart-quests for Jesus.

Talking became a tireless adventure with that single and singular individual--in a room together, the only Kingdom present.

Parties became heartfelt--a festive riot of great intensity and interest.

Gratitude got a new champion.

Encouragement received an authentic and prophetic new fervency.

Jesus held a new little towheaded boy right by His side, and he would never be lonely again.

Teaching had a new advocate who would risk anything holy to move a heart to new territory.

A testimony was forming that broke the patterns of violence, the generations, and the brutal streets.

A yes-face defied the unrelenting attacks of negativity to emerge with sweet empathy, and godly understanding.

Compassion knew its Author.

The Temple of the Holy Spirit became a most welcoming fireside cabin, as well as the most honoring palace for the King.

Marriages could look to their Heavenly Bridegroom for their Model.

Peacemakers bowed in prayer for one who would look through the pain, and not just at it.

Against all the odds of street life, a heavenly city was appointed--right here among us for this new little one.

Families longed to be known by the blood of Jesus, as well as by their biological blood.

And lastly, this wife of yours got the best gift in Jesus that I could have ever asked for in prayer--when 71 years ago today you came here from the Father’s hands. Every year before we were married, I too must have gone to a mountaintop (not even knowing fully why, then) and shouted joy songs for the day you were born! Surely I would have heard the bird whistles, fountain anthems, owl hoots, rolling wave songs, and Jesus saying: “A most wonderful gift do I have coming for you!” Glory! To Him on the day He made you the joyous gift!