Sean is fighting his first cold; and I hate every moment he's miserable and I can't do anything to alleviate the discomfort. I feel so helpless. I mean, it’s not he is not going to get better, he is; but when he has a hard time breathing or coughs so hard he has a back arching, arm flaying, crying fit. But I’m doing my best. Lots of snuggles and kisses and baby vapor rub on his feet (for the cough).
But even with his cold, he’s still a very happy, very good baby. He’s started to ‘talk’ to us more and is so aware of his surroundings. I had my postpartum appointment a week-and-a-half ago and in the exam room he opened his eyes and smiled at me. Not a gassy smile; a smile. He is so pretty when he flashes that gummy grin. Also, the other day with his great-grammy holding him, he was looking around for my voice when I was talking to her.
It’s the small things like this that just milt my heart and make every sleepless night worthwhile.
Christmas is really close, so I did my holiday baking yesterday… but not for us. Every Christmas, since I was a freshman in high school, part of my Christmas present was to go shopping for necessities and donate them to the local homeless men’s shelter. This year, with the economy and lack of shopping time, I wasn’t able to donate my usual Christmas gift. This year, I baked 5-6 dozen cookies for the men, because everyone deserves a special treat.
This is just one of the tings I do for the shelter. And as much as I love that people give to these men at Christmas, it seems a lot of times this is the only time of year that they do give. My sr. year of high school, the a capella choir I was in sang for them and we were warned not to be upset if not a lot of men showed up. We were told that a lot of the men were upset that this was the only time of year they were thought of. That really struck me. Christmas may be a time to give, but the homeless just aren’t around during the holidays, they’re among us year round.
I have made it my personal mission to do as much as I can for these men and this shelter year round. From the 2 dozen cookies I get free from work at the end of the work week, to the travel toiletry I horde from traveling. Anything I can do, I do, because someone needs to do it year round: So why not me?
When I think of those men, I also think about Christ and how he relied on people like the shelter volunteers and people like me.
Jesus didn’t have a home. Yes, he lived with his parents and worked in his step-fathers shop, but when he left, he was just as homeless as these men. He traveled from town to town and didn’t have a BlackBerry in his Cadillac to find the closest Hilton Suite. He relied on the kindness of the people for lodge, food and transport.
If we say we would have done those things for Christ, then we must do it for these men, and women, as well. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Mathew 25:40
A blessed Christmas to you all!
Love,
~
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