The Human Connection
It was 3:30 in the afternoon. The traffic was thin. This was a real good sign as I had little patience to maneuver the traffic. I whizzed past on the sizzling, dry summer roads trying to cover as much distance in as little time as possible. As I left more and more cars behind, my mind started to go back into flashback mode.
It was about 14 years ago that we received the news that my eldest sister was expecting. I was young, single, and into my first job in those days. The excitement to welcome a new born in to the family just drove my mom and me crazy. We shopped, stitched and embroidered clothes for the expected baby over months. I held him in my arms and cared for him with all the love I was capable of. In my heart I always believed that I could never love any child more than this lovely, round, boy.
After that year, with God grace, we have had five more children in our immediate family; two of them being my own. And to my own surprise, I realized I love each one the same as I did the first one, so many years ago. When news broke out that my Sister-in-law was expecting another child, we were definitely thrilled. But in terms of excitement to prepare for the new baby, there was not much. Many days, I felt guilty for not planning, preparing or shopping for the latest addition to the family. But then two kids, office and other responsibilities managed to soon drown the guilt.
Since the last few days, we have been expecting to hear the good news of the baby. It finally arrived at 2:53 PM today. As soon as I received the news, I could barely sit still, leave alone drive a car. I wanted to climb the highest building; stand on top of the roof and shout on top of my voice, “Ït’s a Boy! It’s a Boy!! Did all of you hear, “It’s a Boy!?!”
Come to think of it, the excitement was not so much to do with whether it was a boy or a girl. The excitement was just about the new addition to the family. I knew, from this moment on, life would never be the same. The driver in front of me could not sense my urgency, so I had to give him a sharp honk, and push forward into the afternoon. It is then that I am realized, that no matter how poor I had done on preparation for this latest angel; he was undoubtedly bound to get the same, if not more, love that all his previous siblings. I realized that no matter how many nieces and nephews you already have, your heart has place to hold one more, special one for sure.
I think, most importantly, I realized that I have never felt this happy on any promotion, project, business deal, ever in my life. I would never ever shout on roof tops if I bought a new house, or a car or a diamond necklace. But that little infant, in his new born crib, had this power to make his aunt go absolutely wild. Now that is the power of the human connection. That is why we exist. And that is what makes life worth living.