Please review your 4 lyric options below. Options 1 & 2 are from a mother's perspective, and Options 3 & 4 are from a mother and father's perspective (same songs/different perspectives).
OPTION 1
(Message from Mom):
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON
[Intro]
Forty years...
How did they go by so fast?
Seems like yesterday
I was holding you in my arms.
And now look at you...
My son, my beautiful grown-up son.
[Verse 1]
I still remember the day you came,
The first time I held you close,
Counting every little finger,
Kissing tiny cheeks and toes.
I wondered who you'd grow to be,
Where life would lead you to,
Never knowing that little boy
Would make us so proud of you.
I watched you reach to hold my hand,
Then learned to let you go,
Somewhere between those little steps,
You became the man we know.
The world sees who you are today,
But through your mama's eyes,
I still see that little boy
No matter how the years go by.
[Pre-Chorus]
If I could slow down time,
I'd live some days again,
But I wouldn't change the road you took
To become the man you've been.
[Chorus]
Happy Birthday, Son,
Look how far you've come.
Forty years of memories,
And your story's still not done.
The world may see a husband,
A father standing strong,
But I'll always see my baby
No matter how grown you've become.
Happy Birthday, Son,
You make your Mom and Daddy proud.
One of God's most precious gifts
Is standing before us now.
No matter how many candles glow,
No matter how the years may run,
You'll always be my baby.
Happy Birthday, Son.
[Verse 2]
Thoughtful, caring, kindhearted,
Strong and courageous too,
Family and friends can always count
On the love they find in you.
Smart, accomplished, professional,
Yet what makes us proudest still
Is your sweet and easygoing heart
And the way you love so well.
We see it in the life you've built
With Alison by your side,
And in Kylie, Laila, and Jaide,
Three blessings in your life.
A loving husband, a great dad,
An amazing son you've been,
And watching you become this man
Has been our greatest joy.
[Verse 3]
And Son, we'll never forget the day
You gave your life to Christ,
When you rose from that baptism water
To walk a brand-new life.
More than twenty years beside us,
Still serving faithfully,
And now a trustee in our church—
What a blessing it is to see.
Of everything that makes us proud,
Your faith brings us such peace,
Knowing when this life is over,
Our love won't ever cease.
We'll meet again before the Lord,
Together eternally,
And thank Him for the precious gift
He gave our family.
[Bridge]
Julien...
When a mother first holds her son,
She wonders who he'll become.
Forty years later,
I can look at you
And thank God for the answer.
[Background: “Thank You, Lord...”]
Lord, thank You for my son.
Thank You for trusting us
With one of Your wonderful gifts.
Protect him everywhere he goes.
Give him health and peace.
Cover his home with love.
Give him favor and purpose,
And prosper the work of his hands.
Bless Alison,
Kylie, Laila, and Jaide.
Keep their family covered
And their love strong.
[Background: “Cover them, Lord...”]
And when life gets heavy,
Remind him he's never alone.
Your Mom and Dad
Will always have your back—
No matter what.
No matter when.
[Choir: “Always...”]
[Final Chorus]
Happy Birthday, Son!
Look how far you've come!
Forty years of grace and mercy,
And your story's still not done!
You're a husband, you're a father,
You're a man who's standing strong,
But you'll always be my baby
Even when the years roll on.
Happy Birthday, Son!
Oh, you make us so proud!
One of our proudest achievements—
And we'd say it all out loud!
[Choir: “So proud of you!”]
May God protect and keep you,
May His favor follow you,
May your next forty years bring blessings
Greater than you ever knew.
[Ad-libs]
Peace in your heart...
Love in your home...
Health in your body...
You'll never walk alone.
Happy Birthday, Son...
Happy Birthday, Son...
[Outro]
Julien...
Forty years ago,
God gave us you.
Being your parents
Has been one of the greatest honors
Of our lives.
Your Dad loves you.
Your Mom loves you.
And you already know how we say it...
We love you muchy, muchy, much.
[Background: “Muchy, muchy, much...”]
Happy 40th birthday, baby.
Mama loves you...
Always.
[Soft background echoes]
Happy Birthday, Son...
We love you...
Always...
OPTION 2
(Message from Mom):
IF I COULD HOLD FORTY YEARS
[Intro]
Forty years...
Forty birthdays, forty years of watching you grow.
Seems like yesterday I held you in my arms,
And today, my baby turns forty.
Julien... this one's for you.
[Verse 1]
I remember when they placed you in my arms,
And the whole world disappeared,
I studied every little part of you,
Then whispered, “Mama's here.”
I couldn't see forty years ahead,
Couldn't know how fast they'd fly,
I only knew I'd been given
One of God's sweetest gifts in life.
Then came the years of growing,
Little hands let go of mine,
You found your strength, you found your way,
One season at a time.
And somehow that little boy
Became this man I see—
Everything I prayed you'd become,
And even more to me.
[Pre-Chorus]
Where did all those years go?
I'd turn around and there you'd be,
A little taller, a little stronger,
Becoming who you were meant to be.
[Chorus]
If I could hold forty years,
I'd hold them close tonight,
Every laugh, every lesson,
Every dream that came to life.
Every mountain you climbed over,
Every season that shaped you,
I'd gather forty years of memories
And give them back to you.
Happy 40th birthday, Son,
What a blessing you have been.
Four decades of watching you grow
From my baby to this man.
The world may say you're forty now,
But here's what time can't undo—
You'll forever be my little boy,
And I'll forever love you.
[Verse 2]
You're thoughtful, caring, kindhearted,
Strong and courageous too,
Family and friends can always count
On the love they find in you.
Smart, accomplished, professional,
But those things only tell a part,
Because what makes us proudest
Is the goodness in your heart.
With Alison beside you,
We watched your family grow,
Kylie, Laila, little Jaide—
Three more reasons love overflows.
To see you as a husband,
To watch you be their dad,
Makes us thank the Lord above
For the amazing son we have.
[Pre-Chorus]
Forty years of becoming
The man God called you to be,
One of our proudest achievements
Is the life before us we see.
[Chorus]
If I could hold forty years,
I'd thank God for every one,
For the child He placed within our arms
And the man that child became.
Through four decades of memories,
One truth has carried through—
We've always had your back, Son,
And we'll always stand with you.
Happy 40th birthday, Julien,
May you feel our love tonight.
You've given us four decades
Of reasons to thank God for your life.
And no matter where the next years lead,
There's one thing time can't undo—
You'll forever be my little boy,
And I'll forever love you.
[Verse 3]
We'll never forget the day
You gave your life to Christ,
When you rose from baptism water
To walk a brand-new life.
More than twenty years of serving,
Now a trustee faithfully,
Still beside us in the church
That's been part of our family.
And there's comfort in believing
When our earthly days are through,
We'll stand together with the Lord—
And I'll still be loving you.
[Bridge]
Julien...
Forty years ago,
I prayed over the baby in my arms.
And on your 40th birthday,
I'm still praying over you.
[Background: “Yes, Lord...”]
May God give you health and peace,
Love that keeps your home warm,
Purpose that keeps you moving,
And favor that opens doors.
Father, keep Your hand on my son.
Protect him. Guide him. Strengthen him.
Bless Alison.
Cover Kylie, Laila, and Jaide.
Prosper the work of his hands
And keep their family strong.
[Background: “Keep him, Lord...”]
As he steps into this brand-new decade,
Let the years ahead be blessed.
And remind him...
His Mom and Dad will always have his back.
No matter what.
No matter when.
[Choir: “Always...”]
[Final Chorus]
If I could hold forty years,
I'd lift them up in praise!
Forty years of grace and mercy,
Forty years of blessed days!
[Choir: “Thank You, Lord!”]
For the husband and the father,
For the son we're proud to know,
For the faith that's still inside you,
And the love you freely show.
Happy 40th birthday, Julien!
This is your milestone day!
May the God who brought you this far
Keep blessing every step you take!
May your forties bring you favor,
Greater purpose, love, and peace,
And may every blessing meant for you
Continue to increase.
[Music pulls back]
You are one of our wonderful gifts.
One of our proudest achievements.
And being your parents
Has been our honor.
[Outro]
Forty years...
And somehow when I look at you,
I can still see my baby.
Happy 40th birthday, Julien.
Your Dad loves you.
Your Mom loves you.
And forever and always...
We love you muchy, muchy, much.
[Background: “Muchy, muchy, much...”]
More than you'll ever know.
Happy 40th birthday, baby.
Mama loves you... always.
OPTION 3
(Message from Mom & Dad):
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON
[Intro]
Forty years...
How did they go by so fast?
Seems like yesterday
We were holding you in our arms.
And now look at you...
Our son, our beautiful grown-up son.
[Verse 1]
We still remember the day you came,
The first time we held you close,
Counting every little finger,
Kissing tiny cheeks and toes.
We wondered who you'd grow to be,
Where life would lead you to,
Never knowing that little boy
Would make us so proud of you.
We watched you reach to hold our hands,
Then learned to let you go,
Somewhere between those little steps,
You became the man we know.
The world sees who you are today,
But through your parents' eyes,
We still see that little boy
No matter how the years go by.
[Pre-Chorus]
If we could slow down time,
We'd live some days again,
But we wouldn't change the road you took
To become the man you've been.
[Chorus]
Happy Birthday, Son,
Look how far you've come.
Forty years of memories,
And your story's still not done.
The world may see a husband,
A father standing strong,
But we'll always see our baby
No matter how grown you've become.
Happy Birthday, Son,
You make your Mom and Daddy proud.
One of God's most precious gifts
Is standing before us now.
No matter how many candles glow,
No matter how the years may run,
You'll always be our baby.
Happy Birthday, Son.
[Verse 2]
Thoughtful, caring, kindhearted,
Strong and courageous too,
Family and friends can always count
On the love they find in you.
Smart, accomplished, professional,
Yet what makes us proudest still
Is your sweet and easygoing heart
And the way you love so well.
We see it in the life you've built
With Alison by your side,
And in Kylie, Laila, and Jaide,
Three blessings in your life.
A loving husband, a great dad,
An amazing son you've been,
And watching you become this man
Has been our greatest joy.
[Verse 3]
And Son, we'll never forget the day
You gave your life to Christ,
When you rose from that baptism water
To walk a brand-new life.
More than twenty years beside us,
Still serving faithfully,
And now a trustee in our church—
What a blessing it is to see.
Of everything that makes us proud,
Your faith brings us such peace,
Knowing when this life is over,
Our love won't ever cease.
We'll meet again before the Lord,
Together eternally,
And thank Him for the precious gift
He gave our family.
[Bridge]
Julien...
When parents first hold their son,
They wonder who he'll become.
Forty years later,
We can look at you
And thank God for the answer.
[Background: “Thank You, Lord...”]
Lord, thank You for our son.
Thank You for trusting us
With one of Your wonderful gifts.
Protect him everywhere he goes.
Give him health and peace.
Cover his home with love.
Give him favor and purpose,
And prosper the work of his hands.
Bless Alison,
Kylie, Laila, and Jaide.
Keep their family covered
And their love strong.
[Background: “Cover them, Lord...”]
And when life gets heavy,
Remind him he's never alone.
Your Mom and Dad
Will always have your back—
No matter what.
No matter when.
[Choir: “Always...”]
[Final Chorus]
Happy Birthday, Son!
Look how far you've come!
Forty years of grace and mercy,
And your story's still not done!
You're a husband, you're a father,
You're a man who's standing strong,
But you'll always be our baby
Even when the years roll on.
Happy Birthday, Son!
Oh, you make us so proud!
One of our proudest achievements—
And we'd say it all out loud!
[Choir: “So proud of you!”]
May God protect and keep you,
May His favor follow you,
May your next forty years bring blessings
Greater than you ever knew.
[Ad-libs]
Peace in your heart...
Love in your home...
Health in your body...
You'll never walk alone.
Happy Birthday, Son...
Happy Birthday, Son...
[Outro]
Julien...
Forty years ago,
God gave us you.
Being your parents
Has been one of the greatest honors
Of our lives.
Your Dad loves you.
Your Mom loves you.
And you already know how we say it...
We love you muchy, muchy, much.
[Background: “Muchy, muchy, much...”]
Happy 40th birthday, baby.
Mom and Dad love you...
Always.
[Soft background echoes]
Happy Birthday, Son...
We love you...
Always...
OPTION 4
(Message from Mom & Dad):
IF WE COULD HOLD FORTY YEARS
[Intro]
Forty years...
Forty birthdays, forty years of watching you grow.
Seems like yesterday we held you in our arms,
And today, our baby turns forty.
Julien... this one's for you.
[Verse 1]
We remember when they placed you in our arms,
And the whole world disappeared,
We studied every little part of you,
Then whispered, “We're right here.”
We couldn't see forty years ahead,
Couldn't know how fast they'd fly,
We only knew we'd been given
One of God's sweetest gifts in life.
Then came the years of growing,
Little hands let go of ours,
You found your strength, you found your way,
Through seasons, days, and hours.
And somehow that little boy
Became this man we see—
Everything we prayed you'd become,
And even more to us.
[Pre-Chorus]
Where did all those years go?
We'd turn around and there you'd be,
A little taller, a little stronger,
Becoming who you were meant to be.
[Chorus]
If we could hold forty years,
We'd hold them close tonight,
Every laugh, every lesson,
Every dream that came to life.
Every mountain you climbed over,
Every season that shaped you,
We'd gather forty years of memories
And give them back to you.
Happy 40th birthday, Son,
What a blessing you have been.
Four decades of watching you grow
From our baby to this man.
The world may say you're forty now,
But here's what time can't undo—
You'll forever be our little boy,
And we'll forever love you.
[Verse 2]
You're thoughtful, caring, kindhearted,
Strong and courageous too,
Family and friends can always count
On the love they find in you.
Smart, accomplished, professional,
But those things only tell a part,
Because what makes us proudest
Is the goodness in your heart.
With Alison beside you,
We watched your family grow,
Kylie, Laila, little Jaide—
Three more reasons love overflows.
To see you as a husband,
To watch you be their dad,
Makes us thank the Lord above
For the amazing son we have.
[Pre-Chorus]
Forty years of becoming
The man God called you to be,
One of our proudest achievements
Is the life before us we see.
[Chorus]
If we could hold forty years,
We'd thank God for every one,
For the child He placed within our arms
And the man that child became.
Through four decades of memories,
One truth has carried through—
We've always had your back, Son,
And we'll always stand with you.
Happy 40th birthday, Julien,
May you feel our love tonight.
You've given us four decades
Of reasons to thank God for your life.
And no matter where the next years lead,
There's one thing time can't undo—
You'll forever be our little boy,
And we'll forever love you.
[Verse 3]
We'll never forget the day
You gave your life to Christ,
When you rose from baptism water
To walk a brand-new life.
More than twenty years of serving,
Now a trustee faithfully,
Still beside us in the church
That's been part of our family.
And there's comfort in believing
When our earthly days are through,
We'll stand together with the Lord—
And we'll still be loving you.
[Bridge]
Julien...
Forty years ago,
We prayed over the baby in our arms.
And on your 40th birthday,
We're still praying over you.
[Background: “Yes, Lord...”]
May God give you health and peace,
Love that keeps your home warm,
Purpose that keeps you moving,
And favor that opens doors.
Father, keep Your hand on our son.
Protect him. Guide him. Strengthen him.
Bless Alison.
Cover Kylie, Laila, and Jaide.
Prosper the work of his hands
And keep their family strong.
[Background: “Keep him, Lord...”]
As he steps into this brand-new decade,
Let the years ahead be blessed.
And remind him...
His Mom and Dad will always have his back.
No matter what.
No matter when.
[Choir: “Always...”]
[Final Chorus]
If we could hold forty years,
We'd lift them up in praise!
Forty years of grace and mercy,
Forty years of blessed days!
[Choir: “Thank You, Lord!”]
For the husband and the father,
For the son we're proud to know,
For the faith that's still inside you,
And the love you freely show.
Happy 40th birthday, Julien!
This is your milestone day!
May the God who brought you this far
Keep blessing every step you take!
May your forties bring you favor,
Greater purpose, love, and peace,
And may every blessing meant for you
Continue to increase.
[Music pulls back]
You are one of our wonderful gifts.
One of our proudest achievements.
And being your parents
Has been our honor.
[Outro]
Forty years...
And somehow when we look at you,
We can still see our baby.
Happy 40th birthday, Julien.
Your Dad loves you.
Your Mom loves you.
And forever and always...
We love you muchy, muchy, much.
[Background: “Muchy, muchy, much...”]
More than you'll ever know.
Happy 40th birthday, baby.
Mom and Dad love you... always.