One weekend, Kevin and I took care of one of “my little guys” so his parents could get a much-needed couple of nights away, just the two of them. Their son was so used to me taking care of him and Kevin coming over to visit that he never once asked where his parents were.
Not even when I was the one to come and get him when he woke up in the morning. His only comments were about what I was wearing: “Glasses.” (He usually only saw me when I was wearing contacts.) and “Stripes” (The pattern on my PJs). He didn’t spend the weekend sulking or pouting that his parents were gone. Of course, he was incredibly excited to see them when they came home.
That weekend was the annual Walk for Life for our local Pregnancy Resource Center. We made posters, and my family members took turns pushing his stroller during the walk which began at Immanuel Baptist that year. Back then my dad was still able to join us for the Walk as well as Mass at Church of the Epiphany. He was actually quite thrilled to have one of our family’s favorite little guys at church with us.
Sometimes when I watch our nephew playing, I remember what my dad was like when he’d come to visit or meet up with me and “my two little guys.” Dad always loved being around kids and came up with a seemingly endless array of ways to entertain them without any toys. There are times when I feel as though my heart is being pierced because I don’t get to see our nephew and my dad playing together, at least not in person on this side of Heaven.
Lord, thank You for the blessing of the children You have brought into our lives to care for, love hold, dry their tears, laugh with, sing, dance, and pray with over the years. Please help us be open and loving to those children who remain in our lives or will come into them soon. Amen.
