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Love of Babies, Play
of God
My grandson was born.
My heart changed.
I felt different—more.
After visiting baby,
I returned home to sleep.
I awoke too early.
Stumbling down the street,
looking for coffee,
I lurched into a diner.
Slouched at the table, holding my cup,
I heard a voice,
although
no one was present.
The voice said,
“I have come to tell you that I love you as much as you love Adrian.”
The tears streamed down my face and into the coffee.
Then I thought new thoughts and I felt new feelings.
Reflexes protect life.
Reflexes are behaviors that unfold completely
without prior learning,
such
as breathing, yawning and sucking.
Cradling infants must be reflexive.
With no teaching, one holds an infant gently,
yet with ample strength to
keep baby safe.
I prayed.
My heart opened as if God were an infant.
I cooed and rocked and reassured Him.
All was well,
I would love Him,
I would take care of His world.
Afterwards, I stood there
with a witless grin,
feeling much the way I feel after cradling baby— loving-loved-laughing.
I awoke with a pain. It did not ease.
Grandpa-like, I hugged myself,
intoning sweet sounds.
The pain lessened.
I slept.
That which you seek
is not in your portfolio,
or in the media.
It is in God’s toy box.
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