“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has always been one of my favorite Christmas stories. I have the book and the original movie (who doesn’t?). I love how the Grinch’s heart changed in the end, and he figured out the things that really mattered.
The day before Noah was born, a lot of things mattered. So many little things worried me or irritated me. The day after, all of that changed.
“Why?” you ask.
Well, I stood there by his tiny hospital bed and stared for hours. There was this heating light above him like a tiny tanning bed keeping him warm. There was a tube coming out of his mouth and taped over his face, and there were IVs and monitors attached in various places. He was a beautiful newborn. His skin was soft, and clear, and he had blond peach fuzz covering his little head. And I didn’t know if he would live.
I stood there for hours, staring. I didn’t know if I’d ever get to hold him. I remember wondering if his sweet little name would fade over time. Just this beautiful, little baby that would only be vaguely remembered by everyone around us. It was more than I could bear. I remember giving him over to God, while at the same time begging that he could stay.
Do you know how lucky I am? How blessed? Because he did get to stay. He got to stay when other babies didn’t. And I have had the privilege of enjoying him ever since.
And ever since, the little annoyances of life have seemed awfully “little.” How towels should be folded? Little. How straightened your house stays? Little. Having designer anything? Little.
Now, I still fold my towels a certain way, I still try to keep my house straight (emphasis on the “try”), and I still like to have nice things. But they don’t matter in the scheme of things.
I guess what changed most for me was my perspective. I know that I am not going to deal with other people’s drama. I’m not going to falter under the weight of people’s expectations. I don’t care too much what other people think of me. There are important people in my life, and what they think matters very much. But only people I trust.
My experience with Noah did that for me. Having Noah in my life did that for me. And that is how blessed I am. I don’t know if my heart was two sizes too small before, but it definitely grew three sizes that day.
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