The year is wrapping up with a bang. I attended another birth last night. We're eight for eight since last Thursday. The momma last night (and this morning) has a rough time but she did it. At one point she was hollering at the top of her lungs with each contraction. But she brought out her wee boy who had a slow start but was hale and hearty when they left the birth center.
Got home at 5AM and fell into bed with my clothes on. It's harder as a grandma to recover from all nighters. But I manage.
A friend recently admonished me when I said, "but anyone could have been at the birth and helped the mother" (because I want people to own their experience) that I did indeed help them. I got up in the middle of the night and went out on the highway in the dark and cold to where some woman was in labor (in travail as they used to say). I hung out with the family until the baby made her appearance and I kept them safe and took the long watch because it was my job and my calling. And the blessings from this long life of service have been countless. Countless.
The spiritual practice I study encourages us to celebrate our own goodness, to see that we can have a positive effect on our world. However small our acts of kindness are.
As I sit here in my quiet house with tea and not quite enough sleep, I reflect on all the kindnesses that go unnoticed. In service to others, because our hearts are calling us to love who and what we love. Because there is goodness in us.
3 comments:
This is the most profoundly beautiful and spiritual thing I've read in a very long time. Thank you.
Thank you for this beautiful post tonight. Yes. There is goodness in us. Welcome to the sweet baby boy and congratulations to the sweet mother.
Thank you for what you are doing. Thank you for getting up in the night and driving across town and helping with the birthing and keeping watch. All babies and all mothers need someine like you.
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