There is something very special about the littlest one in a family. Today my youngest grandchild Layla celebrates her first birthday, and  I can’t help wondering what it means to be the littlest.

Is it always an upward journey from here?

Will the littlest always be taken lightly, or will there come a day when she stands tall and looks down lovingly at the rest who once carried her around like a doll?

There is a mystery about the smallest one. The world assumes the youngest is pampered and spoilt. They say everything is easy. They say the road becomes smooth because others have walked ahead.

But any littlest child growing up will tell you there is another side.

The littlest watches and listens. She learns from every stumble her older siblings make. She grows quietly but she grows smart. She grows observant. She grows determined. She grows deep roots without noise. She becomes strong not because she is pushed, but because she is protected.

And yes, she is loved. Perhaps a little more than the others. Not because she deserves more, but because the heart expands each time a new child enters the family. Love does not divide. It multiplies. The littlest carries the weight of that love like wings. When she walks, they help her soar. When she falls, they cushion her. When she dreams, they cheer the loudest.

And so as I watch Layla today and think of all that lies ahead. I see years unfolding like pages waiting for her fingerprints. Adventures waiting.  Challenges beckoning.

I wondered how soon she will learn to run. How soon she will learn to speak. How soon she will stand on tiptoe to reach heights meant only for those who dare.

The world thinks littleness is weakness. But anyone who has held a one year old in their arms knows the immense power wrapped inside such a tiny frame. A power that can melt the proudest heart. A power that can unite an entire room with one smile. A power that reminds us of hope.

And then my thoughts travelled to something close to my heart: I wondered when this little one will come to know the God who has been by the side of each member of our family. The God who has been a shield in storms and a whisper in silence. The same God who has guided her grandfather and held him often when he faltered. The God who has shaped each step of his and guarded each moment.

May you know Him soon dear Layla. May His hand hold yours through every climb. May His voice guide your decisions. May His love build you into a woman who walks tall even as she stays gentle and humble.

God bless you little one, today on your birthday…!

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