The
Blessing of Children
“You
have turned my mourning into dancing...and clothed me with joy.”
Psalm
30:11
My
niece is expecting a baby in October! I can finally tell the world,
alleluia! I have seen all my friends rejoice at the births of
grandchildren, have watched videos and listened to stories of the
spunk and brilliance of each and everyone. You'd think we were seeing
the rise of a super race to hear these proud grandparents boast. So
finally, I will know what that feels like. I, along with many others,
will claim this child as our own, since my niece was truly raised by
a village. There is nothing quite so joyful as knowing a precious new
life is on the way.
As
I've said before, the other branch of my family tree, my mother's
sister and her young'uns got all the eggs in the clan. One or another
of them has a new sprout every single year. My Aunt Lane's shelves
sag under the weight of all the photographs. And each infant is
welcomed with fanfare and celebration just as if it were the only
one. When that family gets together they have to rent a gymnasium
there are so many of them. But over here, we have only a little
handful of children and now our first egg is incubating. Alleluia!
Children,
more than any other relationship, can turn our mourning into dancing
or drop us to the bottom of the well with no lifeline. Parenthood is
such a joyful and terrifying state, with every possibility hanging
out there, firmly attached to our beating hearts. We never know what
will happen and everyday, every single day, we rejoice with and for
them, and hold them up with trembling hands and prayers. Parenting
well is the finest and best thing anyone does with their life.
Alleluia!
My
neighbors, Stan and Marcia, just watched their younger daughter marry
the love of her life. There had been months of planning and wrangling
over preparations. When I asked how the wedding went, the tired
mother of the bride said, “We had a wonderful time, and now I'm
just walking around in a daze.” Oh, yeah. I know that feeling.
Rejoice!...and now, adjust! Alleluia!
If
you have children, give thanks for all the colorful threads they add to your
life's tapestry. If not, enjoy your children-by-proxy. They will
teach you wisdom and patience. They will break your heart and put it
back together again with just a few cracks in all the right places.
Alleluia!
In
the spirit,
Jane
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