Gifts #18 & #19

Once again, dear friends, I am behind on my posting.  I am so behind I actually have forgotten one of the gifts I've given!  Must not have been that great, huh?  So, today would have been Gift #20, I'm making it #19.  Ahem.  Moving on.

Gift#18 - Yoga Class

For several years now I have been practing yoga on a regular basis. It has been a great stress reliever for me.  I practiced yoga through my entire 40 weeks of pregnancy and I know it contributed to how great I felt.  For this gift, I decided to gift to a gift giver again.  I gave my yoga teacher one class to give to a new student or an existing student.  Secretly I hope she gives it to someone she meets one day who says they have always wanted to try yoga.  I hope she says, "Well, hey, I have a free class to give someone.  Why don't you use it?".  What if they use the class, feel a connection to the practice, become at peace in their heart, which in turn opens wider?  Then they begin to live lighter on the earth and give to others....you get where I'm going?  Ahh...what if?

Gift #19 - A compliment

This, by far, was my toughest gift.  On Sundays, John & I go to lunch, just the two of us, after church.  Mom & Dad keep the baby and it's our little ritual.  Today it was cold and rainy.  I wanted soup!  As we sat in the restaurant, I saw a mother pick up her infant (maybe 2-3 months old?), strap on her nursing cover and nurse.  Right there IN THE MIDDLE of the restaurant.  She was so elegant, nonchalant, and seemless.  She popped that baby right under the blanket and went about her conversation.  I said to myself, You go girl!.  I never was quite that brave to nurse in public.  I think this was her second baby so maybe you become this skilled on baby #2?  Anyway, as much grief as public nursing women have gotten these days, I wanted to tell her how awesome I thought she was.  But, I thought, that would be totally crazy to walk up to a strange women and say that.  What if she thought I was going to be critical?  What would I say?  How would I say it?  I decided to mention the idea to John.  He would tell me if I was koo-koo.  He didn't, he said, "Do it babe". 

So, as we got up to leave the restaurant, I walked over to her and her family, along with the other family they were dining with.  I said, "Excuse me.  I noticed you breastfeeding and I just wanted to tell you how awesome I think that is.  I just finished weaning my, now, one year old and I was never brave enough to nurse in public.  I just think it's really awesome and I wanted to tell you that".  Although her husband was looking at me like What is going on here?, the mother was beaming while she thanked me.   And the women in the other family they were dining with said "That is so great for you to tell her that".  We all felt so good.  I felt like I had just supported my sister in this incredible journey of motherhood that is often times lonely and difficult.  I felt empowered.  I felt strong.  I felt like a real momma.