Phil,
Thank you for forwarding this to the list.
Virgie and Hoshi
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2005 8:00 PM
Subject: Fw: Tender Story of Love - A Baby's Hug


> Well, shoot.  I thought this was worth forwarding.  I'm sorry.
>
> Phil.
>
>
>> Subject: Tender Story of Love - A Baby's Hug
>>
>> A Baby's Hug
>>
>> We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in
>> a highchair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.
>>
>> Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, "Hi." He pounded his fat
>> baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were 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 wa! ved 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."
>>
>> 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 skid row
>> 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 and kinship. 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, lovingly and 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."
>>
>
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