Her name is Elena (EL-e-na) Grace, born February 28, 2013. As you can see, she sports a fuzzy round head and pudgy cheeks. What you can’t see are her feet–long and slender like her father’s.
Now two months old, she studies her surroundings and tracks right and left the toys we jiggle for her. Elena already likes books, too. Wide, blue eyes take in as much as possible before the page turns. As her grandmother, I’m delighted to play and read, just to see her reactions.
Elena’s father, our son, is an artist. A number of his paintings hang in their home. Hold Elena in front of one and she scrutinizes it carefully.
“Wow!” her eyes seem to say. “Have you ever seen such creativity? Such interesting spatial composition? What intriguing juxtaposition! Such beauty.” (Yes, I’m sure these would be her comments if Elena could talk. Grandmothers know these things.)
Early in April she began to smile. Each time her little face lit up, my spirit lifted.
And then came the first “coo,” followed by many more. No doubt Elena thinks she’s joining in the conversation. We listen closely to catch every “word.”
Is this how it is for our Heavenly Father?
I wonder…
Does his heart fill with delight when we revel in His creation, as Elena delights in her daddy’s paintings? Does he experience joy when we take pleasure in his blessings, much as we take pleasure in Elena’s smiles? Surely so.
Psalm 69 gives us a hint: “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord” (Psalm 69:30-31a). One of God’s names is Creator. He is also God of grace. What a privilege–to make the King of the universe smile, simply by expressing praise and thanksgiving for what he has made, and what he has done.
I wonder…
Does he listen closely to every word (as we listen for Elena’s coos)–even to our thoughts that defy words?
Oh, yes.
“He delights in genuine prayers” (Proverbs 15:8b, MSG).
“If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans” (Romans 8:26, MSG).
God listens and responds, even to inarticulate prayers.
Why? His love for us is wide and long and high and deep (Ephesians 3:18), in spite of our shortcomings and disobedience. Incredible, isn’t it?
Thank you, Father, for your loving kindness, your forgiveness and empowering presence. Thank you for treasuring us even more than we treasure our families. And thank you for little Elena, who brings new attention to familiar old truths.
From the Inside Out 
She is beautiful, Nancy. wow. I know as I watched my daughter hold her infant daughter I got a glimpse of God holding each of us. His love is so powerful!
Ah, yes–Isaiah 40:11. I love that image, too!
Thank you, Nancy!!! Love the pic!!
I have to agree–that photo is a winner. Hard to believe, though, that happy baby can also cry up a storm!
I loved this blog. You can tell your granddaughter is truly a Ruegg. Precious.
Thank you, Laura. There are similarities between Elena and some of her daddy’s baby pictures!
What a truly beautiful child!! I didn’t connect that she was born on my birthday, well, when there’s not a 29th, I celebrate it on the 28th as I did this year. What wonderful, appropriate Grandmother thoughts you have!! And then to think that God loves us even more!! Unbelievable!!
I’m delighted you found my grandmother-thoughts appropriate. It’s so comforting to be substantiated! And I totally agree: God’s love for us is indeed unbelievable!
What a sweetie! isn being a grandmother amazing? And I loved this analogy! I will look at our newest granddaughter with new eyes as I watch her discover things. How much I still have to discover.
I’ve frequently heard other Grandmas and Grandpas rave about the fun of grandparenthood; now I know they weren’t exaggerating. I, too, look forward to the discoveries our granddaughters and I will make together!
Elena (love how it is pronounced with the emphasis on EL) was born on my Mom’s birthday, the 28th of February. Not having been blessed with children of my own I have been blessed to have been allowed constant contact first with my three nephews and now with four of their five offspring. I have eagerly snatched up every opportunity to see the world anew through their eyes; this has been a blessing and learning experience for me as well. I love them dearly. This past Mother’s Day my two eldest great-nieces brought me a ‘Mothers Day’ card and a gift…and I am just an aunt! I was so very touched by the Lord working out the proximity I have to these precious souls and strive to be a positive, spiritual influence in their lives. Great post, Nancy!
How delightful your great-nieces celebrated you on Mother’s Day! I’ve said it before but it won’t hurt to say it again: you have invested so much loving care into your nieces and nephews. A “mother’s award” is highly appropriate!
Thanks, Nancy!
His name is Sam Edward and he was born on May 1. I just spent the last 27 days with him and was thinking many of the same thoughts. Babies are a gift that remind us of the glory of creation and of how fragile human life is. I was so reminded of our responsibility to care for “the least of these”.
From one grandmother to another….Congratulations on the cutest baby and on the joyous task of the best job on earth.
Thank you, Ena, for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Yes, indeed, babies do remind us of the glory of creation. A billboard in town states that an unborn baby’s heart begins to beat at eighteen weeks. Incredible! Also amazing: as the cells multiply in the womb, they diversify in hundreds of ways. And tiny as babies are when born, everything is there, down to pinkie fingernails the size of sunflower seeds. Such a wonder!
Happy grandmothering to you, too, Ena!
Nancy, thank you for that beautiful analogy. We had a lovely visit with Rebekah yesterday (our seven month old great granddaughter) and I share the feelings you have so beautifully expressed. God has been so good to bless us with the precious little girl in whom we see His Image.
AMEN to your last sentence! Thank you very much for stopping by, Ruth.