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A baby's hug
#1 · February 4, 2002, 1:21 pm
Posted by: amazinggraze <amazinggraze@...>
> > A BABY'S HUG !
> >
> > Hi Cousins, Happy New Year !
> > We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat
> > Erik in a
> > > high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and
> > talking.
> > Suddenly,
> > > Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi there." He pounded his
> > fat baby
> > > hands on the high chair tray. His eyes we crinkled in laughter
> > and his
> > > mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and
> > giggled with
> > > merriment.
> > >
> > > I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a
> > man
> > whose
> > > pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked
> > out of
> > > would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed
> > and
> > > unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard
> > and his
> > nose
> > > was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far
> > from him to
> > > smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped
> > on loose
> > > wrists.
> > >
> > > "Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man
> > said to
> > > Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks,"What do we do?" Erik
> > continued to
> > > laugh and answer, "Hi, hi there."
> > >
> > > Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then
> > at the
> > man.
> > > The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.
> > Our
> > meal
> > > came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya
> > patty
> > cake?
> > > Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."
> > >
> > > Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.
> > My
> > husband
> > > and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for
> > Erik, who was
> > > running through his repertoire for the admiring skidrow bum,
> > who in
> > turn,
> > > reciprocated with his cute comments.
> > >
> > > We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My
> > husband
> > went
> > > to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot.
> > The old
> > man
> > > sat poised between me and the door. "Lord, just let me out of
> > here
> > before
> > > he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed.
> > >
> > > As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to
> > sidestep him
> > and
> > > avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned
> > over my arm,
> > > reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position.
> > Before I
> > could
> > > stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the
> > man's.
> > >
> > > Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby
> > consummated
> > their
> > > love relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and
> > submission
> > > laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's
> > eyes
> > closed,
> > > and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full
> > of grime,
> > > pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his
> > back.
> > No
> > > two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I
> > stood
> > > awestruck.
> > >
> > > The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes
> > opened
> > and
> > > set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You
> > take
> > care
> > > of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that
> > contained
> > a stone. He pried Erik from his chest
> > unwillingly, longingly, as
> > though he were in
> > pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God Bless you,
> > ma'am,
> > you've
> > given me my Christmas gift." I said nothing more than a
> > muttered
> > thanks.
> >
> > With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was
> > wondering why I
> > was
> > crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My
> > God, my God,
> > forgive me." I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through
> > the
> > innocence
> > of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child
> > who saw a
> > soul,
> > and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who
> > was blind,
> > holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, "Are you
> > willing to
> > share your son for a moment?" when He shared His for all
> > eternity. The
> > ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, "To enter the
> > Kingdom of
> > God,
> > we must become as little children."
> >
> > Hi Cousins, Happy New Year !
> > We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat
> > Erik in a
> > > high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and
> > talking.
> > Suddenly,
> > > Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi there." He pounded his
> > fat baby
> > > hands on the high chair tray. His eyes we crinkled in laughter
> > and his
> > > mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and
> > giggled with
> > > merriment.
> > >
> > > I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a
> > man
> > whose
> > > pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked
> > out of
> > > would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed
> > and
> > > unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard
> > and his
> > nose
> > > was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far
> > from him to
> > > smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped
> > on loose
> > > wrists.
> > >
> > > "Hi there, baby; Hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster," the man
> > said to
> > > Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks,"What do we do?" Erik
> > continued to
> > > laugh and answer, "Hi, hi there."
> > >
> > > Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then
> > at the
> > man.
> > > The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby.
> > Our
> > meal
> > > came and the man began shouting from across the room, "Do ya
> > patty
> > cake?
> > > Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo."
> > >
> > > Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.
> > My
> > husband
> > > and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for
> > Erik, who was
> > > running through his repertoire for the admiring skidrow bum,
> > who in
> > turn,
> > > reciprocated with his cute comments.
> > >
> > > We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My
> > husband
> > went
> > > to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot.
> > The old
> > man
> > > sat poised between me and the door. "Lord, just let me out of
> > here
> > before
> > > he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed.
> > >
> > > As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to
> > sidestep him
> > and
> > > avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned
> > over my arm,
> > > reaching with both arms in a baby's "pick-me-up" position.
> > Before I
> > could
> > > stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the
> > man's.
> > >
> > > Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby
> > consummated
> > their
> > > love relationship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and
> > submission
> > > laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's
> > eyes
> > closed,
> > > and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full
> > of grime,
> > > pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his
> > back.
> > No
> > > two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time. I
> > stood
> > > awestruck.
> > >
> > > The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes
> > opened
> > and
> > > set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, "You
> > take
> > care
> > > of this baby." Somehow I managed, "I will," from a throat that
> > contained
> > a stone. He pried Erik from his chest
> > unwillingly, longingly, as
> > though he were in
> > pain. I received my baby, and the man said, "God Bless you,
> > ma'am,
> > you've
> > given me my Christmas gift." I said nothing more than a
> > muttered
> > thanks.
> >
> > With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was
> > wondering why I
> > was
> > crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, "My
> > God, my God,
> > forgive me." I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through
> > the
> > innocence
> > of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child
> > who saw a
> > soul,
> > and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who
> > was blind,
> > holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, "Are you
> > willing to
> > share your son for a moment?" when He shared His for all
> > eternity. The
> > ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, "To enter the
> > Kingdom of
> > God,
> > we must become as little children."