06/17/2023
I’ve been in London for the last 3 weeks, as my daughter who lives here gave birth to my first grandchild. A few days ago was Elizabeth’s baby naming! Family and friends prayed for her continuous health and happiness throughout her life.
After the ceremony I carried Elizabeth into a room where we had a few minutes alone. Nothing like the birth of a child reminds us of our ancestors as well as our descendants. We are reminded of our place in history when a child is born, as well as the responsibilities that go along with it. Praying for the wellbeing of a baby, we’re reminded to pray for the world in which she’ll grow up.
I worry about the world Elizabeth is inheriting, as most new parents and grandparents do these days. We’re anxious about the state of things, including the state of the planet itself. Yet with the birth of each new child comes the arrival of new hope. In our quiet moments that we had together today, I promised Elizabeth I would do my best to make the world a better place for her.
I feel sad to be leaving London next week, for every day Elizabeth’s little face takes on new layers of beauty. I’m sad to think of little things that I’ll be missing, not being a Mimi who lives around the corner as my own grandmother did. But I do know I’m supposed to go home next week, to hit the ground running on our campaign for a better world.
As I held Elizabeth in my arms, I spoke from my soul to hers. I told her how much I love her, and I reminded her to remember what she herself is here to do. In the ceremony of blessing, the rabbi had prayed she would grow up to be a woman of learning and a woman of service. When I had my own time with her, I added my prayer for her power and strength. May the love she has brought into the world already be magnified millions and millions of times throughout her life.
Her Mimi will travel back to the United States in a few days; but being a grandmother, I am changed. More than ever, I will commit our campaign to the wellbeing of children. More than ever, I will commit our campaign to the repair of the earth. More than ever, I will commit our campaign to love.
