You are wanted

Some friends of ours had a baby girl yesterday morning. She has been long awaited. She was born into a wonderful family with many adoring friends. We went to the hospital to visit her. It is such a neat thing to be a part of the excitement that a new baby brings. There were several groups of people gathered around the nursery windows looking at the wrinkled, little screaming newborns. Everyone thinks that the baby they are there to see is the cutest one in the nursery. It is so cool to be part of the celebration of a new life.


As we were there looking at those babies, I couldn't help thinking about baby M. Who was there to adore him through the glass? Who was there taking pictures of him and going on and on about his hair color or long eyelashes? Was his entrance into this world overlooked until he got to our house? How sad to think that this beautiful child could have spent the first two days of his life without being bathed in the excitement most other babies are bathed in. Did he have a nursery waiting for him with his biological family? Did his mom have a baby shower and receive gifts she has not had a chance to use? Somehow, I doubt it.

When he got to our house, all of that changed. He became the most beautiful baby in the world. He received gifts and was doted over. He was photographed. He had an instant family. He was kissed and held and whispered to. He was placed in a room that was lovingly prepared for him. He was wanted.

I tell him that a lot. I know he doesn't understand what I'm saying to him. But I think he needs to hear it anyway. I hold him close and I whisper in his ear, "You are wanted. You are not a mistake. You are a gift and right now at this time in your life, you are wanted."