Stop and Think

It's Saturday which typically means a pretty busy day for most of us.  There's errands, housecleaning, maybe a child's sports game, a get together with friends.  After you finish reading this, I'd like everyone to stop what they're doing for even a minute and think.

Think about yourself or someone you know.  Think back to when either you, yourself were pregnant or someone you knew was.  When you told people or you found out, what happened?  My guess is you were bombarded with congratulations or gave them.  You were asked or asked yourself whether you hoped it was a boy or girl.  You had or went to a baby shower where everyone showered you with gifts and everyone melted at the sight of the adorable little outfits you or the mommy were going to put the baby in.  You went to the hospital or heard the soon to be new mommy and daddy were on their way to the hospital and the baby would soon be born.  When the baby was born the mommy and daddy hear the baby cry, hold them and stare at their beautiful face.  Visitors come and fuss over the newest addition.  Mommy and baby stay at the hospital for a few days and then the new family goes home and a new life as a family begins. 

Now I'd like to go back and examine this phenomenon from a different perspective.  The one almost no one thinks from.  Think about someone who lost their child.  Now imagine someone telling them that they themselves are expecting.  Sure, we offer our congratulations and wish them the best.  Many times parents who lost their child then go off and cry because we miss our children and wish we were them.  Some of us get angry and yell at God asking "why them and not me?"  We're jealous of the naive joy and scared that something will happen. Parents who are expecting additional children are even more difficult because so many of us are still waiting to have the joy of one.

Some women never even get to have a baby shower.  Some do and then are left with a room filled with items and clothes that will never be used or worn.  Some women go to the hospital to a baby that will never make a sound.  Some will never take their children home.

So the next time your child is up all night, or sick, or you're running all around time trying to make it to games, practices, school functions etc., stop and think about the parents who will never experience these things and experience the joy so many of us would give everything we have just to experience.