Dear Elizabeth,

There are so many words and yet I don’t know where to start. My heart swells with emotion whenever I look at you.

Your sweet face, your fingertips, your soft baby skin.

For right in front of me is tangible grace.

Mama wants to tell you the story of how you were born and yet I cannot without starting where it all began.

Before time was, your name was written in God’s amazing story of redemption.

The story of all stories, the one we pray you come to embrace wholeheartedly. He knew you dear girl, before time began. Your name. Your features. How your life would weave into the tapestry He created. Creator God chose the perfect moment for your entrance the world and into our lives.

We waited on Him. For you. He doesn’t always answer. We were prepared for no. And because your life was planned before time began, He answered with yes. Because you see, He always knew when you would be born.

There is Holy significance behind your life. 

It’s not chance. It’s Holy, glorious, meaning. There is a purpose for your life. A purpose because everything He creates is purposeful. “The LORD has made everything for its purpose…” Proverbs 16:4.

After 3 years, in mid-October He formed you. Within my womb. And after 9 long months of feeling you move within, wondering who would await us, you, Elizabeth, took our breath away when you arrived.

On the eave of your birth, the Lord moved.

He was ready, awaiting this moment, upholding the universe all the while. When water burst, the trumpet sounded, announcing that your entrance into the world was at hand. The angels rejoiced, the Lord of Hosts smiled down. It was all planned Elizabeth. And at 2:18, on June 22, He moved the universe, and you were born. Though we didn’t know it and we were not quite ready, He knew it was time. His perfect timing.  “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born…” Ecclesiastes 3:1.

But you see Elizabeth, it’s never about us, it’s about Him.

For He knows all things and the timing of your birth was perfect in all ways. It was not as we planned; it took us a minute for it to sink in. 24 hours. You would be in our arms. As our minds comprehended,  our hearts overflowed with childlike giddiness. We would be meeting our daughter soon!

We were amazed at what was ahead but we had no idea the impact it would make on our marriage, on our individual hearts. You see, we were unknowingly getting ready for our hearts to swell with gratitude, burst at the seams, for our Creator had given us you. And we were so unprepared for the love that would flow for Sovereign Lord and for you, Elizabeth. You make our hearts overflow in gratitude for Almighty God, to give glory.

”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

To be continued…