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." > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----