somebody.

Today I got to hold some dear friends’ brand new little baby girl. She is the sweetest part of life, I think; she is small and so very important, innocent and unashamed of her needs.

I think I can learn from her.

I think that it is a tricky thing, trying to be strong and yet realizing that it’s okay to need something or someone. I think the amount of trust that she has in her parents to take care of her is a good reminder. You don’t have to be tiny to trust like that, right? You can be grown up–or at least much bigger–and realize that there’s a plan for you. That life has not lost its whimsy and that there just isn’t time to be ashamed of your story anyway; not when it’s still unfolding like the best kind of epiphany that brightens you up on the inside until it works itself all the way out into the way you carry yourself.  Like you’re somebody.

Not better than anyone, but man, somebody.

And I think holding a brand new little person is good for the soul. It’s nearly impossible to go to dark places with a bundle like that in your arms. It’s hard not to feel hope when bam! there’s a miracle right here and look! she’s wiggling her tiny toes and her eye lashes are just perfect.

And she’s somebody.

And we all started there, a miracle.

And we’re all going somewhere, so might as well make it a good place and might as well not rush the journey along the way and might as well think about the moon and his beautiful, sad face; might as well think about the taste of salt on your tongue, how it changes most things and makes them better; might as well think about how life is full of somebodies who are, for the most part, lovely and who are, for all parts, full of worth and potential at least, and yes, it’s good to be among them.

And yes, holding a baby is so good for the soul.

And I wonder if parents of tiny babies get a little glimpse of something that tips them off to the secret of how we are all some pretty special somebodies and how love is never, not even a little bit, wasted.