The baby boy.

Sometime an issue doesn’t matter to you until it hits you in the face. Right? It’s easier to think of broad beliefs, and even the solutions, that don’t effect your money or your time, until it’s right there in front of you.

My hubby and I have this experience right now.

It comes in the package of a six month baby boy, who is our neighbor’s nephew, who has a dead father and drug addicted mother. Our neighbor and his wife have brought the little boy into their home temporarily, along with his 2 1/2 half year old sister. Without them taking the kids right now social services would have found a foster home for them.

Our neighbors have an adult daughter, no grandchildren yet, and therefore no baby items in their house. Some of us have rallied around them and donated some basic needs for them. We went over to give some moral support too and to meet the little guy and his sister a couple of days ago.

The baby boy has beautiful eyes and a wide smile. He is chunky which is wonderful considering he was born ‘addicted’ to drugs due to his mother. He has an large abdominal hernia from the first month or two of lots of screaming and crying. But, he is doing really well now, and at this young age he has no idea how people are deciding his fate.

His momma goes into rehab today. It’s not her first time. Will she be successful in drying out and staying clean? We pray she does. But, reality says she this is a lifelong cycle.

So, what about this baby boy?

And, what about so many, many young children born in America with an uphill battle?

My heart breaks for these little ones.

Addiction. Lack of mental health help for adults. Lack of giving them motivation, an education, and hope. No free birth control. Women who feel no control over their own bodies. And, women looking to get help by attaching themselves to a man by having a baby (and that never works.)

While this is America…. So is the trend by many state governments to take away abortion as an option. I think about how more babies will now be born unwanted, or in situations like our neighbor’s little nephew.

Our social service departments across the country are understaffed and under funded. Foster parents are wonderful but it’s so sad to think of these little ones getting ‘passed around’ – sometimes just for money.

This time of year I think about the birth of the baby boy in Bethlehem, born to a young mother – a woman who was told her role, and she abided. Mary, and Joseph, did what they could to make sure this baby ‘made it’ and he became the change in the world that we needed. Jesus grew up to tell us to love all children, to take care of those in need, and to help the poor and the hopeless. Are we listening?

For hubby and I right now, this beautiful little 6 month old next door is taking an abstract concept and putting in front of us, in real life.

His uncle and aunt have difficult decisions to make. They are working hard to do what will be best for him, and are spending lots of time dealing with ‘the system’ .

This post does not have a happy ending. I wish it did.