the lollipop

I thought over my son's costume for a few weeks before Halloween. While my girlfriends all had theirs for months and came up with creative ideas, I was striving for something fitting while being manageable. By manageable, I mean something I could actually get him to wear. After about 3 - 4 stores, and no luck, he ended up being a Target purchased Superman. I tried to put the costume on him when I came home, but ofcourse he wanted nothing to do with it. So, I left it out on a rocking chair hoping a little more persistence would help. I was embarrassed that I could not come up with something better then a Velcro sealed superman costume. However, my thoughts were cut short when I learned that a friend had passed suddenly leaving behind her husband and 6 month old baby girl. I had just seen her a week past and watched the excitement in her eyes over being a mom and the overall love and joy for life pouring out of her. She was a glowing mother! The simple smiles during those times were the accomplishments all mothers lived for! Halloween was the night before her service. My son wore his costume without a battle, but the greatest moment of the night had nothing to do with the trick or treats and the children running through our neighborhood nor did it have to do with him being Superman. It was my son's pure enjoyment over a lollipop. His first Halloween candy and it was like he smiled at me for the first time. The simplicity was no longer over complicated. The following day we attended my friends service. It was beautiful and encompassed everything about her. Her husband said it best when he told us that she "got it", she understood the importance of life. Family, friends and love. The foundation many let crumble. So, no longer do I worry about the Halloween costume, instead, I make sure to drop a thank-you note to show I care or help a mother with her new child because I have been there. She got it and I hope someone, someday, can say the same about me.