This Fall, my sister Morgan had her first child—a daughter named Magnolia. Each niece or nephew in our family has their own playful flavor. But something about my sister's pregnancy and birth changed me. Almost like a twin, I wanted to experience everything along side her. When the baby moved or she couldn't fit into her clothes, I wanted to know. When she found out the gender, opened every baby gift, or put the final touches on her room, I wanted to see. And now that Magnolia is here, I am equally fascinated with her awkwardly short arms, her buddha belly, her yawns, and her milk-drunk stares.
If there was ever a moment in my life where I've wondered if God exists, it isn't now. There is a layer to life that is deep, omnipotent, and spiritual. The Magnolias of the world create a tangible feeling of love, and it helps us feel close to the people we cannot see and the God about whom we wonder. With her too comes the opportunity to grow alongside her. Grow into a mother, a caring aunt, a steady father, a good person, a better contributor to the world.
