This story is adopted from a YouTube video by: Johnny Anonymous - Baby
Parts of this story have been edited and parts have been rewritten by: John G. Todora, Jr.
The ministers pre-Christmas sermon was heartfelt and had everyone thinking about helping the homeless and downtrodden. While in church, seven inches of snow piled up outside and it was finally starting to look and feel like Christmas. Our one-year old son, Johnny, was behaving during the service, and everything about the day was nearly perfect. I hadn't eaten all day and by the end of the service I was starving! I motioned to my husband that we get a bite to eat afterwards. He nodded his head in agreement. There is an old fashioned diner car on the way home that has fabulous food and I knew that's where I wanted to have dinner.
It was December 19th, and there were only a few people in the diner; however, that quickly changed as within 15-minutes most of the booths were filled. We were the only family with a child in the diner. Christmas music was playing softly in the background and everyone was quietly seated and talking. I sat Johnny in a high chair and got him situated. One of the nicest waitress the diner employed came to take our order. We ordered some appetizers, or main meal and some french fries and apple sause for Johnny. Suddenly, Johnny, looking toward the door, squealed with glee and yelled one of the few words he knew, “Hi!” while pounding his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin as he wriggled and giggled with joy.
I looked towards the door and saw the source of his happiness. It was a tall man whose pants were baggy. He wore a dirty brown coat over a dirty brown hood sweater, with shoes in the same shape. The hood on his coat was coving his head, but it could be seen that his hair was unwashed and uncombed. His whiskers from his mustache and beard were thick and brown. I had seen his kind before and usually kept my distance. I whispered to myself sarcastically, “Oh great,...this is just great.”
We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled of alcohol, cigarettes and sweat. He had an old duffle bag and looked as though he was trying to sell things to the patrons. He brushed the snow and dirt off the bag onto the floor, as he unzipped it. He reached inside and pulled out a smaller brown bag. The thought came to mind that the smaller bag most likely held drugs. He went from table to table, everyone rejecting him. “Where is the diner manager?” I thought to myself. “only ten bucks” he said to a couple, who refused to even look in the bag. I heard the woman say to him, “Please sir,... we're trying to eat.”
We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled of alcohol and sweat. He had an old duffle bag and looked as though he was trying to sell things to the patrons. He brushed the snow and dirt off the bag onto the floor, as he unzipped it. He reached inside and pulled out a smaller brown bag. The thought came to mind that the smaller bag most likely held. He went from table to table, everyone rejecting him. “Where is the diner manager?” I thought to myself. “Only ten bucks” he said to a couple, who refused to even look in the bag. I heard the woman say to him, “Please sir,...we're trying to eat.”
Johnny continued to laugh and answer, “Hi.” Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and the man, and started pointing. This obviously dirty and smelly man was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. He finally went on to other tables. “You wind it up and it spins around.” he told another couple. “What in the world is this vagrant talking about?” I thought to myself. Ok, clearly he has mental issues, so I decided to stop being so judgmental. He confirmed my thought, as now he was turning in circles and shouting,...”it turns around!”.
Our meal couldn't have come soon enough, as now literally everyone within eyesight was staring at us, and this deranged man. “Why would you do this to us God?...it was a perfect night and now I have to deal with this.” My husband sat in silence, never saying anything, only observing. I could tell from his expression though, that this wasn't the best of situations,...but even with that he never said a word.
Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room to Johnny, “Do ya patty cake? Do ya know peek-a-boo? Hey look, he knows peek-a-boo.” Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were so embarrassed. We ate in silence, but not Johnny, he was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his very loud comments. Johnny was smiling from ear-to-ear and laughing the entire time.
We rushed through our meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the bill and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. “Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Johnny,” I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back, trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Johnny leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's “pick-me-up” position. Before I could stop him, Johnny had propelled himself from my arms and into the arms of this dirty, smelly man.
Suddenly, a very smelly old man and a baby expressed their love and kinship. Johnny, in an act of total trust, love, and submission, laid his tiny head on the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His rough aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, craddled my baby. No two people have ever loved so deeply for such a short amount of time. I was awestruck.
The old man rocked and craddled Johnny in his arms and his eyes opened, set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, “You take care of this baby.” He gave Johnny one of the bags he was trying to sell,... Johnny's tiny hands almost unable to hold it. I still didn't know what was in it, but somehow I managed to say, “I will,” from a throat that felt like it contained gravel. He lovingly pried Johnny from his chest and handed him to me.
I received my baby and the man said, “God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.” I said nothing more than a muttered “thanks.” With Johnny in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband wondering why I was crying and holding Johnny so tightly and why I was saying, “My God, my God, forgive me.” I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment.
My child saw a soul, and sadly, I saw a dirty, smelly man wearing old tatered clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who wasn't. I felt like it was God asking me, “Are you willing to share your son for just a moment?”, when He has shared His for all eternity. We got Johnny buckled into his car seat and started to drive away. Johnny was unusually quiet. I turned around and asked, “Are you ok Johnny? As I looked over my shoulder, Johnny was completely fixated, staring into his lap at the bag he was given. As I watched Johnny, his eyes were becoming heavy and he feel asleep, starring into his lap at that small bag and barring a big smile.
"Love one another, as I have loved you."
- Jesus
