She was unloaded and delivered to us, glory be!
Unloaded from her mother, the little one, delivered,
And we all say Glory Be!
(Inuit birth song)
Good news early this morning! Our seventh grandchild — a girl — arrived safely into the world. And for the seventh time, my heart wells up in the words of the song above: Glory Be! So, I write her name in my journal, ponder who she is and will be, mull over the word delivered, which comes from Old French and Latin roots meaning “set free.” (Which reminds me of one fictional newly-hatched chick saying to another: “See, I told you there was life after birth!”) The meaning of the word developed through “set free” to “give up, surrender,” and finally “hand over to someone else.” All rich connotations for the delivery of a baby and the life ahead of her, and for the Christmas season, all about a baby’s birth as well. — Glory Be!
Borrowing Bones 
Delivered. Delightful. Delovely. Happy with and for you, Dora. I know this Christmas will be especially Merry. God bless.
You are in a good-word mood, Shirley!
Let me be the first to congratulate you, Dora (and Helmut too)! You’ve almost caught up to us (we have eight). But unless something unforeseen happens that will be it for us, so you just might surpass us. I miss that baby stage, it’s so miraculous.
Dora, I just read Henri Nouwen’s devotional for this morning and want to share it with you since it’s so appropriate to your situation:
“At some moments we experience complete unity within us and around us. This may happen when we stand on a mountaintop and are captivated by the view. It may happen when we witness the birth of a child or the death of a friend. It may happen when we have an intimate conversation or a family meal. It may happen in church during a service or in a quiet room during prayer. But whenever and however it happens we say to ourselves: “This is it … everything fits … all I ever hoped for is here.”
This is the experience that Peter, James, and John had on the top of Mount Tabor when they saw the aspect of Jesus’ face change and his clothing become sparkling white. They wanted that moment to last forever (see Luke 9:28-36). This is the experience of the fullness of time. These moments are given to us so that we can remember them when God seems far away and everything appears empty and useless. These experiences are true moments of grace.”
Thank you Elfrieda, for both these thoughts and your earlier congratulations. We also have Daughter C. home for Christmas, and that adds to the lovely sense of all-round unity.
How wonderful to have the little one arrive at this time of year, such a real reminder of the birth of Jesus!
Congratulations – and what is the little one’s name? (Or did I miss it?)
Thanks, Susan. I’m probably a little more paranoid than some about mentioning kids’ names on the web, so I’ll message you privately. 🙂
What a blessing, for you and for this child. You have this new life, and she not only has a wonderful family, she has you for a grandmother..
Congratulations! Another little bundle to cuddle and love.
Marilyn