Blessed Gifts

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Psalm 127:3 (NASB)
As a child, my mother gave me a doll almost every Christmas. One year I received a Betsy Wetsy, who lived up to her name. One Christmas Mom decided to give me one of her dolls. She was large with a soft kid body. Her legs, arms and head were plaster-of-paris. Another was a tall teenager with moveable elbows and knees. Mom worked late nights before Christmas making their clothes.

They were well-cared for. I spent hours playing with them. They were taken for walks in my yellow doll buggy, and sat quietly when I taught “doll” school. Once I learned to sew, they received pretty gowns of my own design.

In a small way, my time as a “doll mommy” gave me a longing to someday become a real mom. Gazing into the eyes of my first son, my heart swelled with joy and thankfulness for God’s amazing gift. Mom sewed baby clothes and soft blankets for my son just as she had for my dolls.

Although they were special to me as a child, dolls can never compare to the relationships I have with my sons and my grandchildren. Dolls were not real nor could they respond to me. Babies reveal God’s love to our families. As we love and care for our babies and children, we see God’s love reflected in their smiles and in their small hands reaching for ours. Our hearts melt when they say, “I love you.”

Thank you, Lord, for revealing your love through the gift of babies and children. Bless and watch over our families. Amen
© 2011 Diane E. Hussey