"Baby Brother" By : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
When I was pregnant with my third child, my first born, Penny, was six years old. My little golden-haired girl whose smile painted rainbows all over my heart. This was a problem pregnancy that was supposed to be spent in bed, but it was one "doctor's order" that I could not comply with. I did, however, spend as much time as possible "off my feet". Each evening after dinner I would take to my bedroom, grab pillows for placing under my feet and knees and do my best to get comfortable. (Something that wasn't about to happen for quite a few more months). During this time Penny and her sister, Melody (age 5 years) were free to join me. We would talk, read, tell stories, sing, or play games. They loved to feel the baby move, and one good kick through my tummy always thrilled them to no end. One such evening we settled into our "night camp", as they had come to refer to this little ritual, when Penny sat down beside me saying, "Mommy, lay real still and open your mouth just as wide as you can, okay?" Surprised by her request, I was going to asked why but, when I peered into her eyes I was intrigued by the look on her face; she seemed filled with a sense of wonder and excitement, so intense and loving it nearly moved me to tears, but I was not prepared for what followed. I could only lie on my side at this stage in the game but, without questioning her I lay straight, and still as I could. Feeling somewhat foolish, hoping my husband would not choose this time to come into the room, I then opened my mouth. Penny looked me over and said, "No, Mommy, that's not enough. You have to open it REAL wide." More puzzled than ever I asked "Why?" She answered by saying shyly, with stars in her eyes: "Well, I heard you and Daddy talking the other night, when you told Daddy the doctor said our baby might not live, that he thought he was already dead. And I've been thinking a lot about that, and talking to God about it, and I want to talk to my baby brother". "Maybe if he knows how much we love him and want him, and if he knows how much it makes you cry about him going to heaven before he comes here, maybe he will try harder to just come here". "And even if he doesn't, I just want to sing to him and tell him I love him Mommy, and let him know how much we want him. You said that he can hear us from in there, so please open your mouth just as wide as you can." I could not speak past the lump in my throat. I hoped she could not see my tears. Penny lay on her side next to me as I opened my mouth, stretching it as wide as it would possibly go. I wept quietly and unashamed as I listened to the loveliest song I have ever heard, straight from the heart of a six year old with a giant heart: "Hi little baby brother, This is your big sister, Penny, I'm just laying here on the bed with Mommy, Just waiting for you to get born". "We really love you baby brother, We don't want you to go to heaven yet, We just want to hold you, And sing to you and love you, And I can't wait to play with you, You have another big sister too, Her name is Melody, That's the loud mouth you keep hearing". "There's lots of games I want to teach you, And I'll teach you how to grow up. You can have everything I get for Christmas, And my birthdays, too". "Please just come to us baby brother. You've never seen the sun shine, Or the pretty stars at night, They're so beautiful. Our Mommy is really beautiful, She wants you so bad, She cries when nobody's looking, But we can hear her in the night, Please don't make her cry baby brother, Cause she's so pure and wonderful". "Sometimes she gets mad, But she ain't ever mean, She won't ever hit you like Donna hits, Or kick you or yell at you either. God loves you but we do too, God wants you but we do too, He's got lots of other baby brothers, But we will only have you, Who's gonna win, baby brother?" (There was more but I am unable to remember it all, I wrote down as much as I could) When she finished her little song, she raised her angelic head and asked breathlessly, "Do you think he heard that, Mommy, or should I sing some more?" I kissed the top of her head, basking in the love light in her eyes and answered, "You can sing more if you want to, Penny, but I'm sure he heard that and I think he's going to listen." Her face lit with a big smile as she cuddled close to my bulging tummy and began telling him one of her favorite stories. I knew this was a "precious moment" I would never forget. Footnote : The baby did not move for 7 months nor did the doctors detect a heartbeat. It nearly took a court battle to prevent them forcing an abortion of my baby but.... "Baby Brother", Mike, was born on July 1, healthy.... against all odds. Penny was true to her word....sharing all she had, teaching all she knew, giving all the love she possessed. God is good, all of the time! With his love ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get faster connections�-- switch to�MSN Internet Access! Click Here **************************************************************** This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. For more info on the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet To unsubscribe from the list send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet/join To get a standard help message on the list services send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ****************************************************************
