Each new year, it’s fun to start off with something new. A new dress, a new pair of shoes. This year, I start with the gift of a new baby. My beautiful granddaughter arrived December 9th and we were thrilled to finally meet her on Friday the 23rd-just two days before Christmas. What a gift!
No, I don’t think I’ll be exchanging this gift. She’s perfect. Ten beautiful fingers, ten beautiful toes, two amazing eyes, and a perfect little nose. She looks just the way that I hoped she would. Gorgeous! And she’s the right size, too! Small enough to squeeze into my carry-on luggage when I try to smuggle her away from her parents! While I’ll admit that I was terribly tempted to try the whole smuggling thing, I passed on the opportunity!
But I did spend some time with my new gift before, during, and after Christmas. I must admit that this particular gift was one that I couldn’t take my eyes off of, and one that I just wanted to hold and look at. Barbra Streisand sings a holiday song called “The Best Gift.” It’s about the best gift being a new born child, and she’s absolutely right!
Now with every gift at the New Year come resolutions about its proper use. I plan to “use” my gift as often as I possibly can. I’ll use her to play games with, to read to, and to talk to. I’ll certainly take lots of pictures of my new gift. In fact, I’ve taken quite a few already. Then there will be quiet times with my new gift when I will just hold her and cuddle her. I have so much to look forward to!
This gift will also be used in another way as I watch my granddaughter’s mother. I think that those moments might be an even more precious gift; watching the little girl whom I raised to raise her own.
When my daughter laughs out loud because her daughter smiles or does something silly -that will be a gift for me. I’ll remember the times when she and I did the same things. I’ll recall how her hair smelled when I drew her into my arms for a big hug. Reliving those special moments through my own daughter’s eyes will be a real gift.
When I watch my daughter tuck her precious one into bed, I’ll celebrate my gift. I’ll know that my baby is experiencing the joy of motherhood. In those brief moments, I’ll recall my own wonder as I watched my babies sleep; the peaceful breathing, and the look of contentment.
So my gift will be quite special in the coming year. I know that she will bring me the same joy all year long that she did that morning I first laid eyes on her. The bonus of my gift will be sharing the joy of motherhood with my own daughter. The miracle of birth, the miracle of a mother’s love, the best gift of the year to me!
No comments:
Post a Comment