Hug your babies

I've become somewhat of an emotional basketcase since having kids. Hearing about kids being injured or abused makes me physically ill, like I've been punched in the stomach and can't breathe. If you've read "The Secret Life of Bees," I often feel like I am on the verge of becoming like May Boatwright, where the weight of the world and all the sadness in it is almost too much to bear. So I don't watch the news. I don't read the paper. I live in my little bubble, and that seems to spare me a lot of heartache. But sometimes my bubble is burst by stories like Claire Martin, a friend of a friend who called out for prayers. And again this week, another call for prayers and another punch in the gut. A friend of a friend, Margot was 2 days older than Claire. She picked up and choked on something that was only removed after an emergency tracheotomy, but it was too late for her little body. They had to say goodbye to their sweet, 12 month old baby. I've sat here looking out at the hot, sunny day, thinking about what agony this family, this mother must be going through. I can't imagine. But I can't stop imagining either. As we go on about our lives, theirs have come to an abrupt and sickening halt. And the fact that it's something that could happen to any of us, on any day, makes it all the more heartbreaking to me. If you page down on the blog, you will see such joy as they celebrated her first birthday less than a month ago. A beautiful video her mom made for her. A charmed life. Why God? Why let this happen? As I sit here, crying for the hundredth time today, I don't know the answer to this and probably never will. But I do know that her story has made me a more patient mom today. I have hugged my girls more today. I have examined their toes, their bellies, their bodies so full of life and kissed them and cherished them. I hate that it takes something like this to make me stop and realize how very fragile and precious this life is, but at the same time I think that might be one of the answers to the Why God question. Not to say that Margot's life should be reduced to making us appreciate our loved ones more, but that it is one of the ripples that it has produced. So hug your babies and be thankful for this day you have with them. As I continue to pray for Margot's family, I will pray that this lesson stays with me and all those who know her story.