Colors of Caring

Although yesterday's color, green, reminding us all that it was St. Patrick's Day, my colors yesterday, a brilliant spectrum of beauty, reminding me of all the wonderfully outstanding things, people and places, our world has to offer. Whether you live in "small town America", the ":Tourist Capital of the World", mid-town Manhattan, the slums of some of the most impoverished places on the planet or a quaint old New England village, the world is a beautiful place. Hearts and memories are made in these places, they should be cherished.  Yet as we read the headlines, we weep for fellow human beings suffering tragedy beyond description, we watch in horror, as stories unfold, each more unbelievably devastating than the last.  Occasionally, out of the rubble and devastation, a miracle arises.  We tend to forget people and places still recovering from tragedy, there are new ones to consume our beings. 

Yesterday I met Hope, a reminder of tragic times in the not too distant past.  Haitian born, too young to remember the devastating earthquake, she is one of the "little miracles" that arises, reminding us there is always a new beginning for all.  Found in the rubble of her former home, in the arms of her dead mother, Hope was taken to a makeshift hospital, then a missionary orphanage. This is where her "new Mommy" found her.  Although a few months pregnant with her second child, Hope's new mom answered the pleas for help, volunteering her services. A nurse, small in stature, she makes up the difference with an outgoing personality and is a fierce defender of the meek and poor, she is a survivor by nature.  Her husband, by her own admissions is "the wind beneath her wings", encouraged her to do what she felt she had to do, staying behind, caring for their two year old toddler.

Hope has a new home, a new Mommy and Daddy, older brother Matthew, now three and an infant sister, Charity.  Older brother "introduced" me to his family.  "Hey lady, this is my first day here, I saw Micky Mouse, you wanna see my sisters?"  As he pointed to the little bundle of a toddler, sitting in the high-chair, he exclaimed, "Yep she's my sister, she don't look like me cause, ummmmm,  Daddy where does she come from?"  Daddy calmly says,  "Matthew she comes from a tiny little place, called Haiti."  Matthew beams, "I know, it's a island."  Surprised, I exclaim, "Well Mr. Matthew, please tell me what an island is!"  Matthew looking very pensive says, "dunno, but Mommy says, it's a beautiful place, my sister is beautiful, Mommy always tells the truth!"  Absolutely young man!

In my world, adoptions are nothing new, myself and sister Patty, two of the luckiest people, blessed with parents that understood, anyone can have children, but to nurture and love, now that is a gift from God, something forever cherished.  Our Fred's News family, a multi-generational group with diverse backgrounds and cultures, included many such families.  Young children from China, Guatemala, Ecuador and all regions of the United States, are blessed to have parents from this small slice of New England "heaven".  I applaud these people, I understand and it gives me great comfort in knowing that the inhabitants of our fragile world, care.  So much is about the "bad things", we protect and over protect, we create barriers, yet my small friend Matthew is a reminder, barriers can be removed.  Just a tidbit....St. Patrick, Ireland's patron saint....born in Wales...!