Let your smile be a blessing.

Dear Luke,

This morning we went to the coffee shop. You know the one. We always go there. We were waiting for Kuku.

Poor thing, you hadn't slept since 6am. You were crying in your pram. I kept trying to push it back and forth to settle you but you kept crying. So I took you out and you sat on my lap.

You like coffee. You wanted to grab the cup. I think you first became addicted to it when I was pregnant with you. Oh Luke, I was very sick while you were in my tummy. I had a coffee before work every morning in an attempt to feel better. It would do nothing, but I would feel you moving around in my belly. You love coffee.  I believe you still love coffee through my breast milk. If I don't have coffee you get cranky! Lucky I only have one a day. Max.

You like standing up on my lap, working out your leg muscles. I thought I would try and play with you but you were so tired you began to cry. I tried to comfort you and then you screamed. I stood up and walked around with you. You like that. You like being up high on a shoulder. Works every time. 

I sat back down and with you in one arm tried to finish my coffee so we could go home and you could have a long awaited nap. An old lady walked past and said that you were such a beautiful baby.

"He's even beautiful when he screams!" I joked.

Another lady walked in. She was an old lady. Short. Alone. She ordered a large latte to take away. She seemed almost stressed out.

She waited for her coffee and it was made in an instant. She turned around to walk out and she looked at you, Luke. She smiled and you smiled back. She almost had tears in her eyes as she interacted with you.

She looked at you, and said, "Oh, my day can start now, because I have seen your smile."

And then you laughed.

You laughed that fantastic hysterical laugh. You could see your lack of teeth.

"Oh! I get a laugh too!" She said.

See, some people are lonely. There are so many hurting people in the world. While we often concern ourselves with the big picture - going overseas to feed the hungry (which is of course equally as important!) - sometimes our mission is just here.

Your smile is a blessing Luke. You are a blessing to everybody. 

Tak perlulah keliling dunia

Don't need to travel the world

Keep smiling, baby. I hope when you are older you can read this and know how something so simple can be a big blessing to somebody. My prayer for you my darling is that you will be a blessing to everybody, not because you travel far and wide, not because you are rich, but just with the beautiful personality that I can already see at 5 months of age.

I love you always,

Your Mama

x o x o x o