by Jennifer Kennedy Dean

I am a grandmother. 

At 2 am on January 13, Campbell Wayne Dean made his appearance. He was 7 pounds 1 ounce, 20 inches long.

Many of you grandparents have been telling me for years how amazing it would be, but, truthfully, I thought you might be exaggerating. Now I think you were underplaying it.

Sara’s parents, Kim and Nora Campbell, along with Sara’s sister Emily, and I were there. Of course, Kennedy, my son, was there too. We had all been in the room through the hours of labor, watching the monitors that measured Sara’s contractions and telling stories about the births of Kennedy and Sara.

When time for the birth came, we relocated to the waiting room, except for Kennedy. After a short stint, a picture popped up on our cell phones (sent by Kennedy) and we had our first look at Campbell. I suspect that our stampede back to the birthing room registered on the Richter scale.

Jennifer, Kennedy, and Campbell joined by Jennifer's mother, Audrey Kennedy.

Truth be told, a newborn baby looks like a newborn baby. Unless it is your newborn baby. For the few days I was able to stay after Campbell’s birth, I inspected him head to toe, marveling at every detail. I am utterly entranced, taken, enchanted with my grandson.

He has done nothing to so capture my heart except to exist. The fact that he is delights me beyond measure. Perhaps this is a glimpse into the unfathomable, unearned love that the Father has for us.

As I inspected and memorized every detail—from the way his little forehead wrinkles up as he strains to open his eyes to the way his tiny toe joints feel so small and delicate—I began to pray over him from head to toe.

HEAD

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.—Proverbs 2:1–8 (NIV)

EYES

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.—Proverbs 4:25–27 (NIV)

MOUTH

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.—Proverbs 10:11 (NIV)

HEART

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.—Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

HANDS

Diligent hands will rule.—Proverbs 12:24 (NIV)

FEET AND LEGS

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.—Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)

I am committed to praying for Campbell and any yet-to-be siblings and cousins from head to toe.

Author and speaker Jennifer Kennedy Dean is executive director of the Praying Life Foundation.  Her two most recent releases are Altar’d and The Power of Small. She is in demand as a speaker and has spoken in such venues as the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove and Focus on the Family. Links to all 4 of her grandmother columns  are available on her Voices page.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.