We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.
Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, “Hi.” He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were 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 were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and 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 as if to say, “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 came and the man began shouting from across the room, “Do ya patty cake? Do you know 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, who was 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 to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door.
“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 sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over 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’s.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man’s ragged shoulder. The man’s eyes closed, and I saw tears hover 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 loved so deeply for so short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his 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 in pain.
I received my baby, and the man said, “God bless you, ma’am, you’ve given me a great gift.”
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.
With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, “My God, my God, forgive me.”
I had just witnessed Christ’s love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; 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 it was God asking, “Are you willing to share your son for a moment?” when He shared His for all eternity.
The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, “To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children.”
–author unknown
God so loved us that He gave ahis only son,yet we sometime dont love others naturally.but He understands and came to show us how to love otherThe world does not understand nor comprehends that Jesus came and died on the cross to tell the world ,He first loved us…with arms open wide,He says “this much”.
Wonderful stories of love from God portrayed through the eye and innocence of a child! It’s so moving and touching .
Behold what manner of love is this? That was how we ware before Christ condescended to pick us out the miry clay and horrible pit of sin. We should do likewise. A great lesson.
Wow! what an inspiring and wonderful revelation. The baby love story touched my heart. It portrays the attitude, life and heart of a true Christian. We are normally very proud and judgemental. Thanks alot for the message. It is a wake up call.
Stay blessed.
Velma
I have been around for 70 odd yearrs,some where after 50, I either read it ,or heard it as a script in a movie,these words.” I LOVE THIS PERSON” Whenever you meet somebody, from a child to a grown up,
say it to yourself with meaning. If the Lady in this story had done this, I think she would have given the man a hug,just like her child did. I do this and it works.
Such a heart warming story. God is good.
Babies are so loving, they don’t know any better than to love everyone. They can’t see on the outside like we do,they feel from the heart. Everyone to them is someone to love. I want to be like JESUS, he looks on the heart,not on the outside. Thank GOD for the love & the smile of a little baby!
This is a powerful testimony. God bless you for sharing.
Shalom.
Oh Father, may I, your love understand,
Prejudice be gone away from my mind
Your love, teach me to show all
Make me a child-like in my disposition,
That all may see Christ in me;
As doth the little boy and the old man
This story made me ask God again, to give me the Heart of Jesus, and to love like Him.
An amazing story of pure love, I’m so blessed.
Touching story, good food for the heart, soul and mind, makes you stop, think and listen. Testimony that God always puts you in a place for a reason.
I was awed by the story. Very simple yet powerful.
Such pure love is only found in Jesus, may God work on our hearts to see and love men the way he sees and love.
This is a very inspiring story, thank you.
What a powerful message through the eyes and heart of a baby, he seen the old man’s love and tenderness. We need to have God’s love for all people and all races.
This is a touching story, God will grant you more grace to publish more. Thank you so much, you’ve minister to my heart
Beautiful
Praise God. This was an amazing story of God’s love for all human beings through a baby boy. God loves us so much that it does not matter what we look like. God looks at the heart of Man as people look at the outward appearance. Wow! This brought tears to my eyes. God is awesome in power and might!