For my 27th birthday, I considered getting a tattoo.
I planned to get the word hesed tattooed on the side of Natalie (the name of my stubborn belly fat).

I punked out and decided against it.

But there’s still a searing quality to that word. 

It’s a word I came across listening to a sermon on the book of Ruth.

An all encompassing Hebrew word to describe God’s heart towards us. 

Loving kindness.

It’s a word you put on low heat to let the fragrance mist through your life over time.

And the fragrance of that word never became more sweet than the moment I met my niece.

She floored me as to the goodness of God, the richness of His glory, his good and perfect gifts. 

And it felt like hesed. Just sweet and kind and a deep, deep blessing.

I do not think anything better has happened to or for our family. 

Her birth poured the oil of joy and gladness all over us. 

It’s His loving kindness towards us that allows us to treasure the sweet present in Iya Michelle.

She is sublime, a consummate smile and warmth. 

And here are some prayers/heart whispers for you, sweet baby.

I pray your heart stays warm.

I pray you find rest in God.

I pray you avoid the ceaseless need to perform and understand the beauty of being.

I pray you take time to think and pray and learn and believe for yourself.

And most of all, I pray you experience hesed. 

Love you forever,

Granny Amber

P.s Sorry I haven’t written in awhile. I recently passed my last CPA exam and I’ve  been thinking through the tragicomedy that has been my life for the past 3 years.