I saw a miracle today. Lying inside an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit was a baby boy born one week before Christmas--and many, many weeks before he was supposed to. His early arrival resulted in anxious moments as a shortage of neonatal space in Saskatchewan and Alberta hospitals resulted in his birth taking place at a hospital in Winnipeg. When he was airlifted back to Saskatchewan we had the opportunity to go and see him for the very first time.
Tinyfragilepreciousamazingwere some of the words that came to mind as I peered into the incubator at this new life. He should have spent many more weeks growing safely inside his mother, but now the incubator and the medical team was striving to provide all that he needs for necessary growth to occur. Careful attention was being paid to every variable affecting his life and everyone was working hard to care for this little one--this miracle.
After our visit to the NICU and as we prepared to leave we passed by many people gathered in the hospitalsome sitting alone, some standing in groups talking quietly, others clutched in embraces in what looked like an attempt to provide comfort. People from different places and different backgrounds yet connected by the same thing--an understanding of the preciousness of life.
We needed to make a quick stop at a department store before heading home. There in the midst of crowded aisles and long checkout lines, something was missing. You could hear it in the voices of impatient parents. You could feel it in the body language of frustrated shoppers. And you could see it on the faces of the clerks who had been the recipients of all that impatience and frustration.
Why do people feel it is okay to act that way? Why do some feel entitled to lash out or be rude to wait staff in restaurants, clerks in stores, or in the many other places people are working hard to serve the public? Yes, a certain level of service is expected but where is our spirit of compassion and understanding? Where is our acknowledgement that they are trying their best and working hard to meet our needs?
As we unloaded our cart and prepared to make our purchases I looked at the face of the lady running the till. She appeared to be in her early twenties and tonight her face looked drawn and tired. I wondered how many customers had been unkind that day or how many had taken an extra moment to smile or ask her how she was. How many people didn't see her at all but just hurried through the line and didn't take any notice of anyone else there?
I have no idea who that clerk was or what her story might have been but I couldn't help but wonder at something. Twenty-some years ago when she was born there were likely family and friends who peered into her crib and oohed and awed at this new life, marvelling at how beautiful, precious and amazing she was. When a child is born we rejoice at what a miracle they are. Unfortunately as a person grows we sometimes forget that truth and we fail to see the preciousness of every human being. Our hearts open to the beauty and wonder of a new life, yet close up tight when we feel inconvenienced in some way and are looking for someone to blame. Every single person deserves to be valued, respected and treated with kindness. We need to look into the eyes of the person trying their best to earn a living and remember he or she is the child, the grandchild, or perhaps the father or mother of a precious person who loves them and wants the very best for them. They are connected to someone who kisses them goodbye in the morning or welcomes them home with a hug at night hoping they have had a day that has built them up and made them feel good about who they are and what they have contributed. It's about understanding the preciousness of human life--every life.
I saw a miracle today. I'll see another one tomorrow---when I see you. That's my outlook.
