This morning I was moved to tears. When you look at this picture you might think that I was moved to tears when a 21'' long, 8lb 2oz baby was born to Julie and me @ 1:50pm yesterday, Friday, March 25, 2011, but those tears were yesterday. I held my son in my arms and wept to myself. When no one was in the room I teared up and softly spoke to my son. I said, "hi, I'm your daddy and I will love you forever and ever!"
I could also be talking about when new mommy Julie fed Benjamin Nathaniel Gurulé for the first time. Those tears were hidden and yesterday as I stood behind her watching them connect for the first time. Julie held him in her arms and guided his mouth to the food supply and spoke softly into his little soft ears and said, "hi, I'm your mommy and I will love you forever and ever!"
These tears could also have been the tears I had when so many people (family & friends) came in to show their support and love. Those tears were also yesterday as they all took their turns at holding Benji, Benny Bean, Ben and somehow introducing themselves to him with their gentle hold and gaze into his face saying, "hi, I'm ____ and I will love you forever and ever!"
Those were all very special moments and all brought me to tears, but the tears I had this morning were brought by... ...
"Come in," I said to the knocks at the door.
"House keeping", a voice came in and continued, "can I come in?"
I replied, "yes, please, come in!" I continued posting pictures and reading posts on my facebook page when a tall, big boned African-American woman entered our room. Benjamin was sleeping in his little bed and Julie was putting on the finishing touches in preparing herself for a day of visitors. This woman began talking to Benji so I perched up to observe this interaction.
"Hi beautiful! You are so good looking aren't you?" Then she turned to Julie and spoke encouragement to her, "Is this your first?"
Julie answered, "yes".
"Oh, I have two kids and I remember it so well. They are..." as she continued talking to Julie I directed my attention to the computer, because I received a new post alert on facebook. When I was done I looked up and she was smiling, pulling full trash bags and replacing them. She was cleaning the bathroom and dusting and sweeping/mopping the floor. I know it was her job, but then she looked up and said, "is there anything I can get for you three?" It wasn't her job to serve us in this capacity. Her job was to clean our room.
Julie said, "umm, I don't know if we should just ask the nurse or you, but can we get some fresh towels and wash clothes?"
"Oh, I will get it. I will be happy to get that for you." She left the room and came back in and then made sure there wasn't anything else we needed, by asking again, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
I said, "No, thank you for being so kind to us and tending to us."
"Not a problem. I have always tried to be kind to others knowing that I want others to be kind to me." She continued, "Who knows if one day you'll be stranded, and I see you, I could help you. We should all treat each other the way we want to be treated."
"Well, thank you so much."
And with that she walked out and I was moved to tears. That truth came from Jesus' own mouth through a random woman to me. This wasn't some monumental moment, but it was Jesus' soft voice in a very exciting and busy moment in my life saying, "Hi, I'm your daddy and I will love you forever and ever!"
