Blessing

I feel like shouting to everyone “I’m the MOST blessed person in the whole world.” But I won’t, because when someone is extremely blessed, it reminds most others of their trials and the reasons that they don’t feel blessed. We’ve had our share of trials, no doubt, and during the trials, it was hard to imagine any time of blessing. But the most difficult trial of my life is the reason that I now recognize my blessedness—the arrival of our precious daughter, Caroline, six days ago, is the inspiration for my joy. I could never have imagined or prepared myself for the heavenliness of her arrival. She is so perfect—I love the way her mouth moves when you stroke her cheek, and I love the way her eyes look when they are wide open and the way her face changes shape depending on whether she’s asleep or awake (chubby when asleep, slender when awake, by the way). I love the way we can soothe her when she is so troubled with gas or some other “baby trauma.” She makes me want to be a better person in all ways, most importantly in the way that I follow Christ and live out His will for my life. I feel undeserving of this amount of joy. My heart overflows with love for her and for my family and friends. My eyes overflow with tears (I know there are hormones involved, but….) at my blessing.