Today I had the "pleasure" of taking only one of my sweet children with me to run errands. As I was leaving the checkout of the last store, (in a rush to get home to my husband who was ready for a break) I noticed that my little 8 month old daughter had dropped her bottle. It had rolled about 15 feet in front of us next to a lady who had been quietly talking with her eyes across the room to my baby. I hadn't noticed it until then...she looked to be in her late 60's maybe early 70's. Her almost curly frizzy hair was salt and pepper gray and to her shoulders. She was slightly slumped over and her appearance made me a little uncomfortable. I caught myself stepping back a little after our eyes locked. As she pointed to my little girl, she softly laughed, "she looked like she was trying to climb right out and go get it." Referring to the bottle that had rolled over to her. I said, "She probably was...she has a brother and sister at home, so she's always trying to do what they do!" She mentioned that I didn't look old enough to have 3 kids and then said, "I guess that's how I would have looked." Her eyes puddled with tears but nothing fell out. Then she gazed so longingly at my child. I felt protective, yet responsible to do something...to say something. I filled the air with noise, "you don't have children?" I asked. She said, "No..." and then looked as if she would cry. So, I told her I was going to hug her against all that is in my germaphobic little body. And I did. I hugged her. That's all I could think of...she thanked me for letting her talk to my baby and I walked away. As I was driving home my heart was literally heavy with emotion. I couldn't put my emotion into words and then I realized that it must have been a God thing. He was pulling on my soul with this experience. I just hope that that woman runs across someone who will do a better job than I did. I pray that she gets the comfort and the peace that she needs. I want her to have that complete feeling that only God can give her. Those important words aside, If there are any mothers out there reading this, please, enjoy your children and treat them as if they are a gift, because they are. Some people don't have the luxury of a little hand tugging on their shirt just needing to be picked up and cuddled. I find myself pushing those needs from my children aside promising that I'll do it in a few minutes (while I wash the dishes or fold the clothes---or deal with bills). Take advantage of right now. Love at my fingertips...little hearts that are more important than a to do list. There are some people out there that will never experience the love of a child. People that have longed for it all of their lives that will never get the chance that we do.