This morning, stepping into the courtyard where we’re staying in Antigua, Guatemala, I was arrested by the sight of a rocking chair. The chair looks like a replica of one we had when I brought home our youngest daughter and the sight of it brought back a cherished memory.
I was seated in the rocker when eight year old Evan approached me with sadness. “I was the baby of the family and now I’m not the baby anymore.”
“Come here,” I lifted him to my lap, suddenly aware of how tall he’d grown. His gangly legs hung down. He clearly was no longer a baby, but that’s not what I said.
“Let me hold you, let me rock you. You could never lose your place in our family, do you hear me? Besides, she’s a girl and you’ll always be my baby boy.”
It seemed to be exactly what he needed to hear because he happily ran off to play.
I’ve lost count of how many times over these last 26 months have I cried out, with tears “My baby boy!” ? But this morning’s memory was gentler. A few sweet tears and even fewer regretful thoughts that I didn’t snuggle with him enough.
Thanks to all of you who have been praying we would find rest and peace during this visit to Guatemala. Last night we had dinner with some long time friends whose children are about the same ages as ours.
It’s good to be here.
” . . .Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14
Inundated with Love 
Oh how our memories warm our hearts. I too have an old rocking chair that my mother, father made for her and we children all sat in it. And now I have it and my childern would sit there. And now they are all gown with children of their own that would sit in it. And not to many more yrs (cause some of the grandchildren are in college now) I image when their children come to visit their great granny their children will sit in the old rocker. And I will sit there and just grin. They probably will think I have gone nuts by then. But I’ll know what I’m thinking.
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