Days of Grace

My dearest Grace,

How to begin?

In the minutes after your birth (can it really be 9 years ago?), I lay in the recovery room with your dad by my side deciding on your name. We had 2 on our list: Lucy and Grace.

"I think she's a Grace," your dad said firmly.

"Really?" I replied. "I was thinking Grace until I saw her, but now I'm thinking Lucy."

"Her name is Grace," your dad replied. I acquiesced. Never have I been so grateful for not getting my own way.

You are a grace, a blessing, to all who know you--but most of all to me. A few minutes later, when I finally, finally, got to hold you in my arms and study your perfection from the top of your little round head, faintly dusted with a shimmer of gold, to the tips of your chubby feet complete with that weird, crooked second toe you share with your daddy and all of your brothers and sisters, I knew you were my Grace. My amazing Grace.

You are an incredible person--one I am so, so grateful to have in my life. You are the child I'm sure I don't deserve. Your kindness, sensitivity, and sweetness surpass everyone's expectaions of a child your age. And we've said that every year. I truly don't know how 2 people like your dad and I had anything do do with creating you. I tell you kids that babies are made when God takes a little bit of mommy, a little bit of daddy, and a little bit of magic. With you, God went heavy on the magic.

These are the words of one of your classmate's moms in an email to me recently. "E. loves your Grace. She speaks of her as being truly genuine, sweet, and unaffected by much of the girl drama that ensues (so unfortunate!) among the girls in that grade." You'll remember that after Clayton's baptism, a fellow parishioner approached us and said that your dad and I must be so proud of you for being such a selfless and sweet big sister to all the little ducks. The school's principal recently told us that the entire school looks to you as a role model of kindness, respect, and true Christianity. Wow. You aren't supposed to use generalities in either writing or arguments, but in this case a little generalization is warranted. I hear things like that about you all the time. (I tell people you came that way, because no parenting technique in the world could create such a character and temperament as yours).

I couldn't be prouder, happier, or more humbled to call you my daughter. You make me better for knowing you. You fill me to the core with the joy and awe of motherhood. I am so proud of the person you are, the lovely lady you are becoming. I say it all the time, and I'll end with it today--every mom should have a Grace.

I love you, sweetie.

Mom