For Benjamin

You are a blank canvas
Your DNA has determined the shape of your nose and the color of your eyes
and your predisposition to so many things
God has knit you together inside
You are no mistake
Always a gift
We prayed for you to be here and join us in this Faith Journey

God breathed life into you, my son
You have traces of both mom and dad running through your veins
Traces of your grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and great-great grandparents too
It will be interesting to see who you are
What you like and dislike
How you smile and laugh
The man you become
Even with the imprints of genes that will determine a lot of things
You are still a blank canvas
A picture never painted before or since
You bring your own colors to add to the picture of life and eternity
A new song to write or sing or play
A new idea or thought to share with the world
A new invention to engineer
Your dad and I will be ever so careful as to how to help fashion this blank canvas into a beautiful piece of art
A great responsibility but one of incomprehensible love

The world to you will be fresh and new
You will hear and see and experience so many things for the very first time
Some will scare you, others will soothe you
But in all things, your mom and dad will be near
And always, your Heavenly Father will be right there
To whisper words of love - singing over you like a sweet lullabye
Always - whether you are 3 days old, 3 months old, 3 years, 33 years or 93 years old
You have been loved even before we knew you or saw you and you will always be loved