Upon arriving to the home, Grandma yelped with delight and cried tears of joy upon holding Triston for the first time. Her memory has begun to digress in the last few months and she has a hard time remembering much, but she'd made sure to remind everyone in the home over these past few months that her only Great-Grandson would be coming to visit soon. That was something that her mind would not let her forget. And the day finally arrived. It was such a sweet moment; placing Triston into her extended, excited arms. As touching as that single moment was, what transpired over the rest of the day was something that will stick with me forever. As the minutes went on, and Triston's belly laughter echoed throughout the halls, an audience began to grow.
One by one, residents would follow that laughter down the hall and around the corner and come to see the new abundant LIFE that had just entered their world. A world that is so often thick with silence, sitting and waiting...for nothing special. But today a baby boy graced their world with laughter and joy. As more and more people emerged out of the woodwork, we had nearly ten people in the sitting room at one point just watching and smiling. I didn't know any of them, but they all felt as though they were Great-Grandparents to Triston. They all wanted to hold him and all of the ladies kissed his cheeks and held his hands. (Everything in me wanted to make sure they were all aware that their germs would certainly get him sick-new mom syndrome- but I held back). Sometimes certain moments are worth him catching a cold; this was one of them.
These older folks just came to LIFE with Triston in the room. They were giggling along with him, singing, clapping, dancing, and cooing and their eyes were lit again. They all discussed their Great-Grankids and their families. And I sat there embracing what one little boy, full of life, can bring to a room full of people who don't have too much to giggle about.
It just opened my eyes to how powerful LIFE is. It encouraged me to never let the child within me to die out. I may not be a squishy cute baby, but I sure as heck can be a giver of LIFE in any room I walk into. What a beautiful thing it would be if I could bring people out of their lonely rooms (literally and figuratively) and out into the 'hall' to join in on all of the fun to be had.
So that's my charge to you. Light up a room like a child. Let people hear and feel the excitement you radiate so they too remember what it feels like to giggle every once in awhile. Because it's pretty phenomenal what a simple giggle can do for the soul.
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