My son understands “the love of the Father” quite a bit more today than he did yesterday.

I remember when it happened to me on August 10, 1987. I held him in my arms and looked at his perfect, little face and felt emotions I had never felt before. I studied the creases in his chubby lips, felt his soft skin against my cheek and smelled new life. It was the beautiful infant smell that I now know but had never considered before.

I felt like an intruder on this moment watching my son hold his son. I knew what he was feeling as I watched him study that perfect, little face. I wanted to put my camera down and just experience the love I saw in his eyes. His smile was so pure, so genuine, filled with hope, nerves, questions  but confidence. I saw the dreams of the Father.

I stood to the side and watched him bring his newborn son to the wife he adores. I watched him delicately place his child into her arms. His face flushed with color, his hands soft on her hands as she held their child.

I backed away wanting them to have this moment all to themselves but not being able to make myself leave. The powerful intimacy of his tender kiss that lingered on her forehead, the satisfied smile that came across her mouth, and the overwhelming sense of joy that filled the room.

I watched my son become a father yesterday. I knew the transformation that was reshaping his heart while I watched. I knew that his life goals had instantly shifted and his priorities realigned. I recognized the love of the Father in his eyes.

The love of the Father who would give everything for his child without a thought.

My emotions were just a single look, touch or word below the surface held precariously in check. My emotions went beyond the beauty of watching my son’s love for his son come to life. My spot as a quiet observer of this beautiful scene was a gift only made possible by the love of this new daddy who risked his life to give me life in a living donor liver transplant three and a half years ago.

Such love.

And now he knows a love beyond what he has ever known. The love of the Father.