[centre][h1]Zachary[/h1][/centre]

[centre]What’s in a name, in Zachary’s name?
He is a one remembered by God.
This in itself is a worthy aim
To follow the path on which he has trod.
For if God has thought to remember a man
Then surely that man has found his path
In God’s righteous, holy, loving plan
And that is a way far away from wrath.
What can we find in his ability?
What good can we glean from the life he lives?
Reserve, empathy, maturity, creativity
And along with all, a heart that forgives.

Reserve in Blitz is no lack of love
It is, in fact, a sort of care
He does not want to burden us
And sometimes we can be unfair
Reserve in Blitz is careful and sure
When he makes his complaints, he treats us fair
Or perhaps he gives us what we do not deserve
When we compromise on each affair
Perhaps we all can learn from Zach
He turns the other cheek so much
And despite all this he never turns his back—
Holding on with a gentle touch.

How does empathy show its face
In Blitz’s conduct every day?
His reserve, in part, but there’s more to his grace
And much of that is in how he stays
Quiet. His silence speaks louder than words
Listening to our worries and fears and pains
He’s there to wait on us in our hurts
His hope, encouragement sustains.
But silence is not all he gives
He knows when to show how he understands
He tries in his thoughts to live the life we live
So he can steady our shifting sands.

Maturity helps him even more
Because he has learned to be joyful and grave
He knows the difference, and is never a bore
And in many a situation, he’s brave
For he can be serious when times are tough
When emotions roll out, when others need aid
If he cannot help, he will never be rough
With a gracious countenance he is arrayed
But when we are happy, he too finds joy
In that he makes our days much brighter
Jokes and puns and friendship and love he employs
For happiness he is a fighter.

Best of all, Zach is creative
There’s never a dull word out of his mouth
His ideas are always innovative
And he rolls with it when things go south
I hardly knew for quite a while
The wonders of his skill in art
But it’s plain to see that he’s got style
And in creation he’s found his heart
For he always seems to have something new
His arcs are always bright and fresh
People, worlds, stories, beauty he pursues
Imagination is his very flesh.

This is the Zachary we know and love
And there’s so much more to be revealed
Against so many others he shines above
His heart and mind he powerfully wields
He’ll only get better as time goes on
His walk with us and God is sure
His joy and hope he heaps upon
Our lives and makes us feel secure
Let us always treat him right
Love him like he loves us so
Let us always find in him our friendship and delight
May we never let him go![/centre]

Happy birthmas, Zachary. You’re eighteen now, which means you’re an adult, and that’s a big step. You’ve been with us for so long—way longer than I’ve been here, for sure—and you’ve grown so much. You, just like all my friends in MR, have touched my life more than you know. God had a plan for me through you, and He still has a plan for you, so keep seeking Him, keep following Him, because you have so much potential. Never think you’re unqualified, because God qualifies us. The ride never ends, and adulthood will be hard, but you have the rest of us to help you along the way, and God is always there. He’s an incredible help in the hardest times, emotionally and physically, as I’ve truly experienced over the last several weeks. You’ll need Him. We all will. “Be strong and courageous,” God said to Joshua, time and time again, because Joshua was entering a new, big stage in his life that needed a whole lot of strength and courage. We’ll be there with you every step of the way.

I love you, Blitz. Thanks for being my friend.

(I’ll be here on the OOC the rest of the day to celebrate your birthday. I might stay longer.)