A Porch of My Own

A Porch of My Own

Friday, March 25, 2011

AND THE BEAT GOES ON


I saw a brand spanking new baby last night. She was welcomed into this world by a gathering of weary but delighted grandparents, aunt, and cousins.

My friend Faye had tears rolling down her face as she met her newest grandchild for the first time. Less than four hours earlier she had buried her mother. She and her daughter (the aunt) and her grandchildren (the cousins) had come straight from the out of state funeral. They sat together in their black and white dress clothes waiting for baby CC's arrival. It seemed that CC had been waiting for them to get there.

(Photo - CC looks at her dad)

We don't take babies for granted in our family. Every one that arrives safely is met with not only joy but a relief that is overwhelming. Almost 18 years ago I stood outside a delivery room door holding my 3 year old granddaughter Natalie and listened for the cry that would tell me granddaughter Lexi made it here safely. Her young parents, my son and his wife, had lost a baby girl after Natalie was born. When I heard Lexi cry for the first time a wave of relief washed over me that almost knocked me to the floor. I gripped Natalie and the door frame to steady myself.

This little lost baby was also the granddaughter of my friend Faye. Her daughter Nicole, the aunt, is my daughter-in-law. So she knew the fear everyone has that has lost a baby, especially a healthy one that is just a couple of weeks from coming into the world as this little lost one was.

I wish I could capture the moment the proud dad brought the new CC out to see her family. This was a group of people that know how precious life is. There was a light all over their faces as they crowded round the young dad and CC - this respect for life that radiated from them. They talked in hushed voices as if they knew they were in the presence of a miracle.

I was privileged to be there when this happened. I had come to pick up CC's cousins (my grandchildren) and take them home. Less than 3 hours earlier the doctor had informed my siblings and I that our mother had had a stroke and was in the last stages of Alzheimer's. She would be going into hospice care as we had wished when she reached this point. She is ready to join our dad, who has been waiting for her almost 6 years.

(Photo - my niece Alison looks at her Grandpa and Grandma)



I don't pretend to understand the mysteries of the universe, and I don't believe people that claim they do, and I surely don't believe what I was taught in Sunday School. But I know as little CC looked up at her dad, she is giving us all a glimpse of the wonder of life, and how it goes on. Sometimes that is all you need to know.

1 comment:

  1. Truly beautiful. The circle of life, joy and pain so intricately interwoven. I love your blog!!

    ReplyDelete