Celebrating Life

Yesterday I attended a baby shower for my niece. I watched her as she opened gifts with the awe that governs mothers as they anticipate their unseen child.  I watched and wondered the usual things. Will the baby be healthy? What color eyes will she have? Will she be tall like her mama or petite like her auntie. I can only imagine the possibilities, but the things I pray most for her are not external. 

I pray she sees her life full of blessings and doesn't harbor the skepticism that kills dreams and erases hope. I pray she sees Gods hand as it works in her life as an exciting adventure and not as an intrusive power beyond her desired control. I pray she has a sense of belonging and being loved beyond the circumstances that govern other peoples behaviors and emotional contradictions. I also pray that I might be a better cheerleader than I was for her mama. 

In the chaos of raising my own children I'm afraid I have not been the kind of aunt I always thought I would be. I don't know about all of her "firsts", or what she hoped for, feared or dreamed about. I prayed for her, but I didn't live much out with her. 

I guess that is why babies give us so much to celebrate. They are a new opportunity to love and be loved, and maybe this time we'll do it better than we did before. I want to know Gabriella's first word, make a fuss when she falls down or giggle with my niece at her first brain freeze. I've heard it told that babies are God's way of saying that He's not finished with us yet. He brings us new opportunities to love along with all the challenges we face to live. 

Dieu est bon, Tojours.