Hey Baby

By Chris Evans

Holding my fresh from God grandson on a rocking chair provided by my closest friends. He's  wrapped in a made from love blanket a sponsor created. The afternoon sun is pouring through the nursery windows like warm golden honey.  I'm loving him, God and life so much right now it almost feels too big.  We breathe in tandem. Holy prana. His hair in tiny whorls as if he's wearing a thousand halos. I think of holding my children this way. It feels beautiful.  I'm moved to go further. I imagine each of my dear sweet friends as tiny babies.  Holding them the same way.  Close to my heart, with tenderness, seeing their absolute perfection,  just as they are. How far can I take this?  I focus on that coworker, you know, that one.  Would I hold this baby?  Without a doubt, yes. I go deeper. The people who have harmed me, wounded me deeply with intention. What about these babies? Would I hold them tiny soft and warm in my arms?  I'm stunned to realize I can't imagine a person in baby form I wouldn't care for, protect and nurture. After having C section I was begging for my baby in the recovery room. The nurse brought me a bundle.  I removed the pink and blue cap to reveal a shock of thick black hair. Wow,  I exclaimed. Look at all that hair! I was smitten. The nurse asked for my baby back saying she needed to check something.  When she returned I took off the cap again to have a baby with close to no hair at all.  The fine wisps were a light brown. I looked at the nurse wide eyed. She apologized and told me she was sorry but she mistakenly brought the wrong baby the first time and didn't check the bracelets carefully.  Sometimes people expect me to be angry about that, but I  wasn't. I was overjoyed  to be holding that baby. I prayed that another mother held my child and loved her as much as I had theirs for those 3 minutes or so. It is not lost on me today that the symbolism for the new year is a baby.  Let's make sure we care for this baby,  2020. Year of perfect vision. Let's hold ourselves gently, with love and care. If your reading this, imagine being safely swaddled in the arms of a loving higher power and whoever has earned your trust. Shhh... there, there. It's gonna be alright.