Let's Talk Turkey

I held a baby today. It was a beautiful thing.

Today was the first day in a looooong time that all of my kiddos went to school, and stayed in school (without being sent home sick). So, what did I do with my first "free" day in a looooog time?...

One million errands, of course! It felt good to be "turned off" for a little while though...to move easily and efficiently without interruption (to linger too long in the shoe aisle at Target).

I didn't even care that there were thirteen people ahead of me at the license bureau. I took my little deli number ticket, and sat down on a bench next to a stranger.

The benches there sit higher than normal, and it made me smile to see people of all ages swinging their feet; not able to touch the ground.

"Doesn't this make you feel like a kid?", I said to the woman sitting next to me. I'm sure she thought I was insane, but she laughed and said, "Yes", anyway.

I'm not shy when I'm high on freedom.

I was in a people watching coma, when I saw a young mom go up to the window, balancing a 7, 8, 9 (?) month old on her hip. I watched her do the one-handed-struggle, and knew that moment all too well...that moment when you think, if God would have just given me one more arm, I could do everything...no problem.

(Evolutionarily speaking, if pandas can grow a thumb-like thing out of their wrist bone to eat bamboo, why haven't we grown a third arm yet? Why?)

Anyway, instead of sitting there thinking, "Oh, I so feel her pain. Look at me sitting here, swinging my feet, and enjoying my freedom", I got right up, and said, "Do you want me to hold your baby for you?"

I'm sure she thought I was insane, but she laughed and said, "Yes", anyway.

While she held down her checkbook with one hand, and wrote with the other, her little guy sat on my hip, and made goofy, baby faces with me. It was wonderful.

My neighbor posed a question on facebook the other day..."What is your idea or definition of grace?"

For me...THAT was it.

If you were to ask me how I've been doing lately, I would tell you that, I'm tired. I feel stretched, trapped, helpless...empty. I feel like I don't have anything left to give.

But, today...I had a moment (which I'm sure involved a little divine intervention)...a completely unexpected moment, where someone handed over to me their most precious possession. They let me be the helper, instead of the helpee. They showed me that I did, in fact, have something left to give.

In that moment, I received grace.

(Something else I have to give...this photo, for my neighbor, because for some reason she likes my bird butt pictures.)

Comments

[christine e-e]

oh my gosh! I know that feeling! I love holding babies {even when I have to give them back; & sometimes because I KNOW I can give them back}... what a gracious act you did & probably without thinking! yet, even though that mommie may have been reluctant to give over her precious cargo, she DID! I'm sure she could sense your thoughtful, helping character. This brought tears to my eyes - of happiness thinking of you sitting on that stool swinging your feet (I'm short too) & also because you gave of yourself even though this was your "brief moment of ME-TIME"....
hugs across the states, my friend....

[Sharon O]

I have so often wanted to do this but was afraid of looking like a stranger 'wanting' to hold a child... you know it just looks a bit 'strange' but I would jump at the chance if I thought it woutd be accepted so many times young mom's do need an extra arm to hold or help or an extra voice to say 'what did your mom say to you? I tend to react out of my years of day care and now with six grand children too. I guess sometimes fear holds us back?
I like your story and the pictures well they are entertaining.

[brandi]

~ok...so i am a bit frustrated...no worries not at you...you see i was over here ealier typing away...almost done to be exact when my lights started to flicker and then power went off...on again off again on again...i lost my origainal comment...ggggrrr!!!

so i will try once more...bird butts and all...your photos above are a pure delight...i love what you have captured...and then for these words you have shared...to find grace emerging from the shawdows...a beautiful lesson my friend...its funny when we feel we are at our lowest...drained of all...somehow...someway...something happens and out from the depths of our soul our spirit starts to rise...the moment you shared and gift you gave for this woman is one she will long remember...you gave yourself and shared trust amongst two strangers...something our world is lacking greatly...wonderful are you for reaching out admidst what anyone else would think...and then for your day...alone...renewed in a matter of minutes ticking by...as much as we love them...it is nice to have a stolen moment or two...thank you for sharing the magic of your day here with us...much love light and blessings shining brightly upon you and yours~

ps....would you ever so kindly email me your email address as i can not reply to your comments : (