Edited to add...This isnt my story...
We were the only family with a child in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee. His eyes were wide with excitement and he giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man with a tattered rag of a coat; dirty, greasy and worn. His pants were baggy with the zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of the would-be-shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved, "Hi there baby, I see ya buster".
My husband and I exchanged looks. "What do we do?"
Erik continued to laugh and the man answered, "Hi, hi there." Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at the man and then us. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Nobody thought the old man was cute. My husband and I were embarrassed.
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. The old man sat poised between the door and me. "Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back, trying to side-step him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm and right into the old man's arms. Erik, in an act of total trust and love, laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man closed his eyes and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms for a moment, and then his eyes opened.
He said in a firm voice, "You take care of this baby." He pried Erik from his chest unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby back, and the man said, "God bless you ma'am, you have just given me my Christmas gift."
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the door crying, "Please forgive me, Lord".
I had just witnessed Christ's love, shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgement, a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.
I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt like God was asking, "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" when He shared His for All Eternity.
May the gift of His Son, fill your hearts and homes this Christmas Season.
We were the only family with a child in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee. His eyes were wide with excitement and he giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man with a tattered rag of a coat; dirty, greasy and worn. His pants were baggy with the zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of the would-be-shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved, "Hi there baby, I see ya buster".
My husband and I exchanged looks. "What do we do?"
Erik continued to laugh and the man answered, "Hi, hi there." Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at the man and then us. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Nobody thought the old man was cute. My husband and I were embarrassed.
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. The old man sat poised between the door and me. "Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik," I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back, trying to side-step him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm and right into the old man's arms. Erik, in an act of total trust and love, laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man closed his eyes and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms for a moment, and then his eyes opened.
He said in a firm voice, "You take care of this baby." He pried Erik from his chest unwillingly, longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby back, and the man said, "God bless you ma'am, you have just given me my Christmas gift."
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the door crying, "Please forgive me, Lord".
I had just witnessed Christ's love, shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgement, a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.
I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt like God was asking, "Are you willing to share your son for a moment?" when He shared His for All Eternity.
May the gift of His Son, fill your hearts and homes this Christmas Season.
