Last night I was at a Christmas party for my daughters’ American Heritage Girls troop. The junior leaders chose as their theme “A Baby Shower for the King of Kings,” complete with shower-type party games and a table full of baby gifts for a local shelter.
The girls had a blast. They played baby-item bingo and did a blind baby food taste test. (“Sweet potatoes and chicken? Yuck!” “Mashed peas? Ew!”) They decorated sugar cookies, sipped hot apple cider, and played round after crazy, laughter-filled round of Train Wreck.
I should have been joyful watching all this but I wasn’t, not really. My heart felt heavy and my thoughts, centered more or less squarely on self.
(Do I need to bore you with all the details?)
(No, I really think I don’t.)
Suddenly I noticed one of the co-leaders, who was cuddling and kissing a sweet little baby. I knew it wasn’t her baby because A). her youngest child is 2 ½ and B). she has creamy white skin and the baby, dark brown.
So I asked her if she was babysitting.
“Yes,” she told me, “his mother dropped him off for the night.”
“All night?” I asked her.
“Yes,” she said.
She told me that the baby’s mother doesn’t know her at all, but heard from a friend of a friend or a cousin of a cousin that they take in children from time to time. The mother called yesterday afternoon at 5:00, saying, “I need a break. Can you take my baby?”
“I didn’t really feel like it,” my co-leader admitted.
“But I did it because of Christ’s love for me.”
So sweet!
Wow, that is so amazing. I think how amazing a mom knows when she can't handle it and needs help and how amazing that there was a family ready with open arms to help. As the mom of many children I am touched by this story and will pray for all the partied int his arrangement. American Heritage Girls is such a gift to our family and moments like this show you the character of the families and girls you are exposing your children to, such a true blessing.
Awwww, what a blessing that baby was for your friend, and for you too.