I held someone else’s baby this afternoon

It is no small thing that they, who are so fresh from God, love us.
Charles Dickens

The Dauphin and I had an appointment earlier today. A set of new parents sat across the waiting room from us. Even if we have no children, new parents stand out in a crowd. They’re exhausted. They wash their hands every time they pick the baby up out of his car seat. Everything is as sterilized as they can get it. They have a fifty-pound diaper bag full of every item the baby will need for either an afternoon in the park, or a trek across Africa.

Of course, I’m a sucker for a two-week-old baby. I like babies, anyway. The scent of a baby’s neck is intoxicating, for instance. I wish I had the words to describe it. That sweet, clean smell sticks with you.

I told the new mama how beautiful her baby is, and to my complete amazement, she held him out to me: “Would you like to hold him?” I got up out of my chair, she placed him in my arms, and he realized right away I was not his mama. After a few seconds of fussing, though, he fell asleep, and I was free to admire the tiny fingers. I rubbed his little belly. I told him he’d sleep through the night before he knew it. It was time for our appointment, so I had to give him back to his mama.

I hope that exhausted mama (and daddy!) can get some sleep. I hope their baby grows to be someone who does good in this world. One thing’s for sure, I’m betting he’s always going to know he’s loved.

I’m still smiling, hours later.

-S