I hold you as my grandfather held me and I am reaching back in my past. Re-enacting a scene that has played out down through the centuries of our family. Someday the little hands that I hold will hold the tiny hands of his child, my great grandchild, and then of my great great grandchild. Always with the same awe and puzzlement that is before me now.
Your mother wanted you so much I will not even attempt to put that into words. Your arrival was preceded by countless prayers and tears and cries to the Father. My prayers were lifted up in my home, in my car as I drove to work, in so many churches and along countless walks alone. "Lord, make Rachel a mother." I doubted at times whether my oldest daughter would be so blessed, but God in his wisdom granted our prayers at the time and place of his choosing, not ours. And not before many tears were shed for reasons that are beyond our understanding. But, as always, what God had planned for our family is better than what we planned, for now we have you. We are so happy that you are now here and will always be thankful to God for his providence.
Our family is more complete now. As our family has grown it has still seemed as though someone or something was missing. We couldn't name it, but all who loved your mother sensed that perhaps our thoughts were about you. That missing piece now so tiny yet so large. At Thanksgiving and Christmas and all other big family gatherings there was this unspoken person who was not there, who we all felt should be.
I think now of these holidays and simple family days to come. Soon your mother will come to our home bearing you in her arms. In a flash it will be that you will come walking up the steps holding her hand. Later you will bound up those steps with your parents trailing behind, bearing some story of an accomplishment or victory at school or play.
We await those days with anticipation but for now are content to watch you in your helplessness and dependence on your father and mother. There is a beauty in the state you are in this day, totally dependent on others, without the ability to do one thing for yourself. You only have this sense of what you need, food and comfort. You know this will be provided and cannot even conceive of being without. You are nine days old and have never been hungry or cold or hot. You have been blessed to be in the arms of a man and woman who have committed their lives to each other and to you and have the means to provide for you. In time you will realize what a blessing indeed this is, for even in the hospital where you were born there are those who share your birth date who do not share in your good fortune.
In the months to come you will teach us so much. You will remind us of the wonder of this earth, as mud squishes through your toes, butterflies catch your eye, dogs lick your face, and raindrops fall on your head. You will teach us about trust. You will remind us of the joy and laughter that comes with learning. You will remind us to be thankful for all the things we forget to thank God for, as smiles fill your face when you learn to take a step, to feed yourself, to dress yourself, to do something nice for someone else.
You will teach us about faith, real faith. As your parents fill your mind with stories of God, the Lord himself will fill your heart, and you will believe. How our Lord himself was once right where you are, gazing at his mother and father, helpless. And you will not doubt. Later others will introduce you to doubt, but that will not come from your parents or from the Lord. My prayer for you this day is that you will ever stand strong and not waver.
I have a favor to ask of you, Truman Dyrud. As with your mother and her siblings and my other grandchildren, the first word you heard from my lips was the name of the Christ, Jesus. I also made the sign of the cross on your forehead. It was my little way of thanking God for you and doing one little thing to start your life as He would have it. I ask that when you come to such a time in your life, that you do this for my great grandchildren and their children. And if you have time in all the excitement, say a prayer for me, as I will for you.
I am happier than I can say that you are here. I so look forward to sharing the days, weeks and years to come with you. God bless you Truman and lift you up, be a good man.