A BABY\'S HUG~~~AUTHOR UNKNOWN

A Baby's Hug ~We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in ahigh chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting an! d talking.Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fatbabyhands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and hismouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled withmerriment.I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pantswere baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes.His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers weretoo short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like aroad map.We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.. His hands wavedand flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya,buster,' the man said to Erik.My husband and I exchanged looks,'What do we do?'Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man.The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal cameand the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do youknow peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, whowas running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn,reciprocated with his cute comments.We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went topay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poisedbetween me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks tome or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back tryingto sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leanedover my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's pick-me-up' position.Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love andkinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny headupon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tearshover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor,cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever lovedso deeply for so short a time.I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms andhis eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice,'You take care of this baby.'Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were inpain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am,you've given me my Christmas gift.'I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ranfor the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik sotightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tinychild who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and amother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding achild who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing toshare your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity. Howdid God feel when he put his baby in our arms 2000 years ago.The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom ofGod , we must become as little children.'If this has blessed you, please bless others by sending it on. Sometimes, ittakes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always rememberwho we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others.The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live indoes not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifieswho you are.This one is a keeper.'It is better to be liked for the true you, than to be loved for whopeople think you are......Author Unknown