In 8/15/2006, in a now inactive blog, I wrote the following reflection shortly after learning that my daughter-in-law was expecting my first grandchild. I  had totally forgotten that I had written this,.  I found it, quite by accident, two years ago, and wanted to share it again in celebration of my grandson’s 14th Birthday.

A little piece of something, clearly visible in the ultrasound image before me.  With amazement I peer into my computer monitor until I see it.

It’s my first grandchild, nine months minus seven weeks from taking his/her first breath. Small, rather insignificant, the size of a grain of rice, I’m told.

My son and daughter-in-law will never buy into this concept of insignificance. This is the handiwork of the Supernatural, they will tell you. They are making plans and changing plans. They are preparing for parenthood. God has blessed their union of love, and is doing a new thing in their lives.

The real wonder, of course, is not what I can see on the screen. It’s what I cannot physically observe, but which is present nonetheless. It is in the DNA – the genetic blueprint for who the little person will be.

While it seems strange to call this rice-size life-form a person, inherent in its DNA is the fact of its prospective person-hood. You might say that this genetic code is a statement from the Creator of His intentions.

God intends for me to have a grandchild by this time next year. Eye-color. Hair color and texture. Bone shape and structure. Thousands of details, already determined and carefully documented, awaiting expression.

These things have already been set. The key now seems to be the environment in which this little one will develop. Rachel, the dedicated mom-to-be, is taking all the reasonable precautions. Furthermore, the hormonal shifts, the morning sickness, and all those other indicators send her a clear message: she is hosting the developmental process.

Rachel is even researching matters of prenatal stimulation — mother’s voice, music, etc.

Later the focus will extend to the spiritual, as Jon and Rachel will teach this child to truly celebrate who God has uniquely created him /her to be!

All of this, not for a “grain of rice” but for God’s creative expression of unique giftedness.

About five months after I posted this reflection,  Elijah Scott Eppley came early.

Today,  January 29, 2021, Elijah is fourteen years old.  He loves basketball and track, lives and breathes his local state university team, and carefully follows the the NBA and the career of LeBron James .   

He is a curious student and loves to learn new things. He truly is God’s Creative Expression of  Giftedness.

Happy 14th Birthday Wishes from a proud grandfather!