Claire's 21st Speech

The Journey has just begun

The Penguin who wanted to Fly.
By Justin Lippiatt (Written for Claire in 2006)
As the Antarctic wind’s icy fingers stroked the egg beneath a warm underbelly. Fine fractures appeared, and soon became cracks in the mottled egg’s shell. After struggling for a while, the chick pushed her dark grey head through the membrane, blinked a couple of times and croaked;
“Mama?”
The downy underbelly moved, and raised itself, allowing a gust of frigid air to envelop the emerging chick. A huge yellow iris appeared from above and focused on the little one.
“Hello dear! It’s Mama!”
So the parent child relationship began…

A few days after Penny freed herself from her capsule, she was allowed to peek at the world around her. The first thing she saw, as she peered out from under the cosy ‘roof’ into the steel grey sky, was an albatross. Its huge wings lifting it, on unseen cushions of air. It was so beautiful and graceful!
“Mama?”
“Yes dear?”
“Will I look like that, when I’m big?” asked Penny.
“Why no, Penny! You’re a penguin!” Penny’s mother chuckled.

A little confused, Penny asked;
“What’s a penguin?”
“You’ll see!” replied her Mama.

More and more Penny was left exposed to drizzle, sleet, snow and freezing winds, as her mother went in search of pilchards and squid. Penny stared in horror as terns and gulls attacked the grey downy chicks around her. She ducked on several occasions as the enemy swooped down to prey on the helpless offspring that dotted the landscape.

Penny’s yellow eyes always widened and stared, distracted, at the gliding albatross that soared overhead.
“I wish I could fly like that! I don’t want to be a stubby, waddling penguin with funny wings. I want to be an albatross!” Penny dreamed.

Penny whined, and moaned to her mother every day;
“I want to fly! It’s not fair – look at me – I want to be an albatross! I want to fly!”
Mama always smiled sadly and patiently encouraged the young chick;
“You’re the most beautiful penguin in the whole world. You are special, and unique! Learn to love who you are, not what you’re not.”

After six weeks Penny, who was now a young adult, stood in front of her mother. She was beautiful! She had sleek, black feathers which reflected a rainbow of colours in the weak Antarctic sunshine.
“Oh my!” exclaimed Mama, “You’ve grown into the most beautiful penguin in the colony! I have never seen anyone as exquisite as you!”
Penny dropped her head ashamedly and mumbled;
“I’m not an albatross, and I’ll never fly”.
Penny’s mother got cross and retorted;
“I agree that you are not an albatross. You’ll never be an albatross! You can be the best, the most beautiful penguin though! Follow me…”

So Penny waddled after her Mama, sheepishly, until they got to the rocky sea shore. She bounded, hopped and stumbled her way over to where the water ebbed and flowed upon the stones.
Mama turned to Penny and commanded;
“Fly!”
Penny looked at her mother, then the sky, then at her stubby wings which she waved half-heartedly.
Mama pushed her into the sea, and Penny screamed in terror;
“Mama! I am all wet and I’ve told you I can’t fly!”

“Please trust me! Come…!” implored Mama as she disappeared beneath the wavelets.
Penny was afraid, yet she followed her mother.

She took a deep breath, plunged beneath the surface…and flew!


No longer a chick cuddled up in her parents nest, tonight marks my take off flight. Excitement bubbles within me as I anticipate what the future will bring. I stand before you and I ponder how I came to be the person I am. Looking back over my life I am overwhelmed with gratitude and love for those who have guided me along my path. The journey has brought many challenges and emotions have certainly run high yet I look back over my first twenty one years of life and I am filled with happiness and contentment.

Step by step I have walked through the different stages of life. From a baby, completely dependent on her parents I developed into an energetic and inquisitive child. I provided my parents with many a challenge – flooding the neighbour’s house for example. As a school girl I was quiet and reserved in the classroom yet at home a drama queen was born. Always the first to volunteer to dance and sing for a willing audience, I developed confidence and spirit. Mom and Dad, thank you for providing me with such a loving environment where I was proud to be myself. My teenage years brought the usual challenges and questions. I made it through the self doubt, confusion and teenage pain and have emerged a young woman, who loves and knows herself but more importantly a young woman who loves and knows God.

Mom, thank you for being such an incredible mentor. In 2 Timothy 4 vs. 2 Paul is instructing Timothy to influence or mentor others. He says: “Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” You have fulfilled this role and provided me with the guidance I needed for my life and my Christian journey. You have known when to let me go to make my own mistakes which provided me with such vital lessons and helped me to take the step forward. Your constant and endless faith and trust in God is so inspiring and has made you a wise parent. You have always let God be my number one teacher and parent and have assisted him in loving me, caring for me and guiding me. 2 Timothy 1 vs. 5 – 7 read “ I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” Mom, we have such a strong, deep bond with each other and with our Lord. Your faith lives in me just like the faith of Lois, Eunice and Timothy was passed down from generation to generation. Your love for our Lord and the spirit of God has been sewn within my soul and I thank you for the role you played in that as my mother. I look forward to the next chapter in our lives as mother and daughter. I love you.

I am a gift. I have value, I am unique, and I am beautiful, dignified, creative and important. God has made me who I am and has poured many blessings into me making me a true treasure. My heavenly father made me the person I am but Dad you helped me to believe in myself and truly value the gift that I am. You have shown me endless love and support. You have provided for me beyond my needs both physically and emotionally. I know that you will always see my beauty and talents. You appreciate and adore who I am which has helped me to love myself. Proverbs 18:16 says “A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.” Through your love and acceptance I know that I am a gift from God placed on this earth to do His will. God can use His gift wherever He desires to provide blessings, love, service and help. To God I am a flawless gem, thank you for reflecting my heavenly Father’s feelings and beliefs and for developing this gift to do God’s will. I love you.

Mom and Dad I would also like to thank you for this wonderful evening you have provided for. I couldn’t ask for a better party than this to celebrate my 21st so thank you so much!

To my family and friends, you have all played a valuable role at different stages in my life. Thank you for being part of my journey thus far, thank you for the laughter we have shared, tears we have cried and the memories we have made. I pray that you will all be a part of the next chapter of my journey and many more eventful stories will be written. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

I ask God that he anoints the journey I am about to embark upon. I pray that He walks besides me every step of the way. For I am a penguin, my stubby wings do not carry the power to fly. However God is my ocean and once fully emerged in his powerful current I am able to soar.