A Wonderful Reward!

It is in Psalm 127:3 that we read "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward." (ESV) This afternoon my wife Barb and I, along with our son Shawn, got to go to visit our niece Rachel, and her husband Matt, at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, MA. The occasion of our visit....the birth of Judah Matthew Keesee at 10:26pm on August 16, 2008. Judah arrived weighing in at a hefty 8 lbs. 15 ozs. and being 23 inches long. His mom, Rachel, spent 20 hours in labor before she gave birth to her reward, the baby we affectionately call - 'lil moose! Here is what Judah looked like on the afternoon of the 17th, when he was about 17 hours old!It was an honor to be able to visit with this new family and share in the excitement that comes with a newborn. We were thankful to be able to share in this special time since Matt and Rachel were the only members of my wife's family who could not be with us at our recently concluded Shaw Family Reunion in British Columbia. But seeing the joy on their faces as we visited with them, and sharing their excitement, made us believe this was every bit as special as the reunion, for them probably moreso. Here at the proud parents in Rachel's hospital room.We all got to take a turn hold the "little big man", and we got to visit with their good friends Caleb and Eva Joy, who are expecting their own reward this coming Wednesday! Here are the happy parents to be.Before we left, Judah's 3 year old cousin Emma arrived and took her turn holding the reward that God had given to Matt and Rachel. Here she is practicing for her duties as a big cousin.
Our visit caused us to rejoice with the new parents and to look forward with anticipation to the arrival of our own grandchild next February when God gives a reward to David and Marianne, if that is his purpose for them. I wonder how much excitement will fill our hearts as we travel to China to see our grandchild and his parents.