Day 50 of 4: A Baby Boy (12/27/12)

December 27: Day 50 of 4 more years:

A baby boy! My Christmas present straight from heaven in 1979! He was so new, so sweet…a good baby right from the start. He was and still is adored. We all laughed and said that Dan was born with three mothers! Because his sisters were the absolute proudest of him! There was no expected jealousy or rivalry over the new baby. The girls held him, entertained him, loved him and as much as a three year old and a five year old could, cared for him. Which also included correcting him, prompting him, "Say thank you, young man!" Lauren's words when he wasn't quick enough with the gratitude on his fourth birthday! Oh, yes, Dan was born into discipline and love! Thankfully, Dan was a good-natured, easy going boy and very kind. If I could use a one word to describe Dan from the start, it would be "kind." As a little boy, he saw a cousin pull off the legs of a granddaddy long legs spider, and his remark was, "Mommy, how will he be able to crawl now?" That comment touched my heart and firmed up my observation of the tender heart which was born in my son. The amazing part was that he could put on a football uniform and fiercely attack the opponents, yet as soon as the pads came off, the sweet person returned! That amazed me!

So how do you know a child is born a certain way? How do you know how God filled him or her? I didn't know at the time but in hindsight, I see it clearly. As a grandmother, your wisdom isn't brilliance usually, but the combination of experience and time. I believe that most Mommys and many Daddys are sensitive to the nature of the babies given to them by God. If you are very still, and hold them close, and study them every day, you will see it. It is the God-given newness on display, but also a character trait or two that you can see and nurture. Peer into his or her eyes, cuddle and soothe. Then ask God to give you the wisdom to nurture that good dominant trait. He will. Observe, look, listen and pray…it is there.

In my grands I see the traits more easily as they are getting older. I also have the benefit of seeing them from a bit of a distance. Parents sometimes are too close and too busy. Here are just a few of the traits I see in my blessings: Mia is loving and kind, sensitive and curious; Andrew is observant, keen on every detail, alert, nothing gets by him; Georgia is feisty and direct, fearless and funny and loves my cat, Carlo; Henry is gentle and creative, loving and inventive; Evelyn is dear and charming, affectionate and observant of beauty; Margaret is good-natured and loving, quick to obey and forgive. In my own children the observations I had as a new Mommy have held true as they became adults. Lauren as a child was friendly, strong-willed yet always tender-hearted, brave and outgoing. Jill was quiet and shy, sensitive and loving to adults, brightening our lives with her sweet little face. Dan was, as I have previously mentioned, the easy-going third-born, the kindest one, loyal to his friends, the one you could tell a secret to, the defender of the needy ones, especially his Momma!

God creates us with gifts born in our character and in the nature of our children. His desire is that we become the best He created us to be and to nurture the best in those He trusts to our care. Those babies straight from heaven, just like my late Christmas present in 1979 are blessings from our Father who loves us. Thank your for our babies and grand babies, dear Father.

"...your Father in heaven will give good gifts to those who ask HIm." Matthew 7:11

Pray:

Dear God, Thank you for the gifts of children, of the little ones that You intrust to our care. Help us to be worthy of the gift of life. Let us nurture the nature you put into each child and assist them in becoming the best You created them to be. 

Amen