It's Christmas Eve 2021 and my littlest sister, Caroline Lilian, is 61.
Her big birthday was actually last year, but Covid-19 regulations put paid to a party. We lifted a glass shivering round the fire in her back garden - in shifts because of social distancing - gave her presents and guzzled cake, but it was all a bit low key.
Bizarrely, something similar happened on her 50th birthday. On that occasion, a burst water pipe disrupted the planned celebrations and we all had to hurriedly help her to consume food that was going to waste. No speeches or words of appreciation.
There is a list in my head of my favourite people who have influenced my life for good along the way. Caroline is a constant - loving, forgiving and exuding the beauty of Jesus.
I was only three when she was born. Our mother had three girls in three years and then a boy - a tradition I upheld many years later. Pauline and I thought she was our little doll with her porcelain skin, hazel eyes and blonde curls. She also had what mother called a rosebud mouth, which made her so very cute.
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| Caroline, Pauline and Ruth |
The adorable toddler grew up into a beautiful girl, although as a teenager she was quite naughty. She has always had a mischievous sense of fun, getting into all kinds of scrapes. On a Scripture Union trip to Tollymore Forest, she somehow thought it was a good idea to go skinny dipping in the river. The teacher had words with our father.
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| With precious brother, Robert |
She took her enjoyment of being in the limelight onto the stage at Movilla High School. I loved watching her perform as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. She was mesmerizing as she pranced and sang, winning plaudits from the great and good of Newtownards.
When Caroline left school and went to college, I was at university. She and Esther, her partner in crime, came to do work experience on the north coast and they delighted in embarrassing me by singing and dancing their way along the streets near my digs in Portstewart.
Her first job was at Killard House where she was so beloved of the little group who called her 'mummy' that one of them, Glenna, became her flower girl when she married Clive. I so admired her determination to study social work as a mature student and get her degree.
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| Clive and Caroline |
Caroline's love of and commitment to vulnerable children runs through her career like a golden thread. Out there are hundreds of families whose lives have been enriched by her care and attention to finding homes where children can be happy.
One of Caroline's finest qualities is her non-judgmental attitude. She always gives people the benefit of the doubt and tries to see the humanity behind the social problems. If loving unconditionally is one of the qualifications for getting into heaven, Caroline's place in the angelic choir is secured. Caroline was always singing. Our parents were singers and we sang with them. We girls were often dressed alike and we must have looked like the Von-Chestnutts. Caroline progressed on to various choirs, finally finding her happy place in Belfast Community Gospel Choir. As part of that huge, supportive family, she delights audiences with songs of joy to the world.
Caroline is such a lovely mother to her own children, and grandmother to four boys and her precious namesake, Lily. She is selfless in giving her time and energy to making the world a better place for all of them, going above and beyond to support and encourage. She sets a fine example of godly womanhood: 'Her children arise and call her blessed'. (Proverbs 31)
Caroline is beautiful, inside and out. She is a very loyal and dedicated friend to many. She is joyful in adversity, facing challenging times through the years with courage and fortitude born out of her steady faith in the God who loves her.
This year, chef and second cousin, David Chestnutt, cooked a delicious meal for us in celebration of her six decades. We told stories, listened to Gary Barlow's Christmas album (she's a big fan) and ate her favourite cheesecake.
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| Sisters Three |
On your birthday, here's a blessing from John O' Donohue:
May you learn to see your self with the same delight, pride and expectation with which God sees you in every moment.
Thank you for being you, with us.
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY
