She Who Affords Joy

I finished hand-stitching the binding on this baby quilt last night while watching "Antwone Fisher" on television. (It was a good movie, too.) The quilt is a leader-ender project that came to the fore, as I've discovered these quilts are wont to do. It is made entirely from Civil War reproduction fabrics, machine pieced, and hand quilted.

It is a gift for a new baby I haven't met yet, the daughter of a sophisticated New York couple I've come to know over the past couple of years through the fascinating world of cyberspace. Mom has roots not terribly far from Philadelphia and writes a tasteful food blog. Dad is one of the best writers I know. Subtlety is not one of his gifts, and he's made me cry as often as he's made me laugh through pieces he has written.

This couple chose a sophisticated, modern first name for their daughter. A lot of people seem to understand its significance. It's a pretty name, but not one I can relate to.

Her middle name, now, that's a different story. It is Grace, a charmingly ironic choice for a dad who is a professed avid non-believer. Be that as it may, I suspect the little girl is well named.

The New Testament word for grace is in Greek charis -- χαρις -- and means "that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness," and pretty much sums up the feelings my friends have shared about their baby. I can't wait to meet her.