00:06
Hello, welcome to Letters Lane. I'm Sofia.Tonight, from this little room, I'd like to
share a letter with you. As the years go by,birthdays begin to feel a little different
than they did in childhood. Yet, when that daycomes around, somewhere, someone might
be quietly thinking of us. Tonight, I would liketo share one such letter with you. Please
stay with me. This is a letter from a mother toher grown child. It speaks not of great
achievements, major life milestones, or grandcelebratory words. Instead, it holds a simple,
heartfelt wish. It is a wish for her loved one tostay healthy, find moments of peace,
and cherish each day while walking their own path.Now, please listen to A Birthday Letter
from Mom. A Birthday Letter from Mom. My dear,happy birthday. Another year has come around,
and today I found myself thinking of you, just asI always do. Birthdays seem to make people
think about big milestones and achievements, butwhen I think of you, my mind goes somewhere much
simpler. I wonder if you slept well last night. Iwonder what you had for breakfast. I wonder if
something made you smile today. Those are thethoughts that visit me. As a mother, there was
a time when I measured the years by how muchtaller you had grown, what new things you had
learned, and how quickly you seemed to bechanging. Now, I find myself paying attention to
different
things. I hope you are taking care of yourself. Ihope you find moments to rest when life becomes
busy. I hope there are still small things thatmake you laugh. The older I get, the more I
realize
that an ordinary day is never really ordinary. Aquiet morning, a familiar walk, a meal enjoyed
without rushing, a peaceful evening. These thingsmay not seem important at the time, but they are
the pieces that make up a good life. Even when wedo not speak often, you are never far from my
thoughts. Sometimes, I see a certain seasonarrive, hear a familiar song, or notice something
that
reminds me of years gone by, and I find myselfwondering how you are doing. That is simply how a
mother's heart works. There is one thing I wantyou to know today. Thank you. Not for being
03:02
perfect,
not for accomplishing anything remarkable, not forbecoming who someone else expected you to be.
Thank you for being yourself. Thank you for makingyour way through this world in your own way. That
has always been enough. As you begin another yearof life, I hope you will be kind to yourself. You
do not have to move faster, you do not have tocompare yourself to anyone. You do not have to
prove your worth. Just keep going, one day at atime. And wherever life takes you, I hope there
will be
moments of peace, moments of laughter, and momentsthat remind you how much you are loved. Happy
birthday, take good care of yourself. With all mylove, mom.
The song you are about to hear was inspired by thesentiments expressed in that letter. It is a song
that reminds us that a person's worth is notmeasured by success, achievements, or the
expectations
of others. Sometimes, simply being there isenough. Here is Keep the Porch Light On.
No matter where the road may take you, you'restill the one I'm
So take your time, don't race the morning, don'tchase every star you see
The world may ask for more tomorrow, but tonightyou're enough for me
If the rain comes down, if the wind blows cold, ifthe nights run longer than they should
Just remember somewhere in this world, someonehopes you're due, someone hopes you're due
I don't count your life in victories or measure itin things, a quiet laugh, a setting sun
The seasons paint the same old fences, the yearskeep changing everything
06:06
But every birthday finds me grateful, for one moreyear your heart still sings
So take your time, don't chase every star you see,the world may ask tonight you're enough
If the rain comes down, if the wind blows cold, ifthe nights run longer than they should
Just remember somewhere in this world, someonehopes you're due, someone hopes you're due
Thank you for sharing this time with me tonight.
The people who think of us do not necessarily askfor anything in return.
They simply wish for our safety, our happiness, orfor us to be well.
If listening to tonight's letter brought someoneto mind,
it might be lovely to hold that feeling close toyour heart.
I'll see you in my next letter.
This is Sophia from Letters Lane.
Good night.
