Rishabh turns 8 this week

Rishabh turned 8 this week
And his happiness is at its peak
There is a lot that makes me glad
While a cake is being cut by my little lad

Am I glad that before he turned one
He was spared the baby snatch
While another unlucky 1 year old became the predator's catch ?

Am I glad that before he turned two
He was always guarded round the clock
Unlike the unguarded toddler who reached the edge of a pool while on a walk ?

Am I glad that before he turned three
All he got was love and trust
While some other 3 year old became a victim of someone's lust ?

Am I glad that before he turned four
The picnic bus reached him home safe and sound
Unlike the the bus of another 4 year that was destined to be drowned ?

Am I glad that before he turned five
He had his fill of the carousel ride
While some other 5 year old went on a ride that came untied ?

Am I glad that before he turned six
For his ailments, insurance had him covered
Unlike the uninsured 6 year old, whose tumor they had just discovered ?

Am I glad that before he turned seven
Bullying was not something he had to face
Unlike the bullied 7 year old who ended it all in disgrace ?

Am I glad that before he turned eight
He didn't have to face the nozzle of a Glock
Of a shooter who decided to spend his bullets in a school ad-hoc ?

So, my dear son, as you celebrate your birthday,
From the bottom of my heart, this I must say,

It doesn't matter if you didn't get a perfect score
And it doesn't matter if you didn't get more medals than the boy next door

It doesn't matter what you achieve as you move from a boy to man
And it doesn't matter if you don't do the best you can

All that matters is that we wake up each morning to your heart beat
For being eight itself was such a feat!