Goodwill Toward Men

A little over a week ago, we were Christmas shopping for the cousins we had drawn in our first annual cousin Christmas swap. One of the cousins we're buying for is baby James, who had not yet made his entrance into the world, but would before the holiday.
Sam was helping (since Peyton didn't really care) as we thought about what James would like, what the family didn't already have a ton of (since he's baby #5), what would be in our budget, etc.  Sam helped pick out another toy for his older brother, also on our exchange list. We thought about a lot of things but the end goal was the same--what would be the awesomest thing we could possibly get within our budget? We wanted to give the best gifts of anyone. We wanted to find the best deals so we could look like we totally blew the spending limit (but didn't). We wanted to have the one gift that is still getting used next Christmas, not the one that's left forgotten on December 26th.  As we all do, we wanted to give the "perfect" gift for Christmas. We gave it some thought and finally selected a gift for him.
Last Thursday, Sam and I wrapped the gift for James, wrote on the tag "To James, Love Peyton, from one baby to another" and placed it carefully under the tree. On Friday (almost as if summoned by the siren call of an unopened gift) James arrived. He's a beautiful boy, cute little features, and a perfect amount of hair (just enough to not be bald, but not enough to be hilarious--no offense to Peyton). He looks just like his oldest brother who also has a gift sitting under our tree, carefully selected by Sam.
On Sunday, routine tests revealed James has three major birth defects in his heart.  He was rushed to Phoenix Children's Hospital where he is awaiting open heart surgery later this week.
All of a sudden, in one simple moment, things changed in our Christmas planning. Instead of thinking "how can we give the biggest and best gift?" our thoughts have become "what can we possibly do to help in some small way?" How can we lift some of this heavy burden? We, along with so many others have come together realizing, it isn't about doing the greatest good, looking for supremacy, spending the most money. It's about helping in the smallest ways imaginable--a hug, a well timed soda, a ride--whatever is needed. My nephew is still the beautiful boy he was on Saturday, but it is heartbreaking to see him hooked up to so many machines, unable to eat, or be cuddled by his mom whenever he so much as peeps--which should be every newborn baby's right.
Even though we are not the immediate family involved in this situation, we have felt an outpouring of love and support from family and friends. People have helped us with our children so we can help them with whatever they need. Countless people we love, most of whom have never met Daniel's sister, are praying for and thinking of James. People not of our faith, and many even opposed to religion have offered to pray for him, and send good thoughts his way. I can not tell you how appreciated this is. Others have shared their love, expertise, and support. I know for Rachel and her family, there have been even more of these things. There has been help with physical needs (such as meals, childcare, etc), as well as emotional and spiritual needs at this trying time. The staff and volunteers at the hospital are extending so many small kindnesses as well. We are very hopeful for a good outcome for the surgery this week, and we are thankful that our family has such an amazing network of support through the trying weeks ahead.
Now as I think about the question we asked less than a week ago "What would Baby James like for Christmas?" I can't help but think on an entirely different level. I think he wants what he is getting now in spades. He wants people to pray for him, and to take care of his mom, dad, and brothers and sisters the best they possibly can. It isn't about giving the "best" gift from the store, but the gift that most lifts the burdens of those around us. There may be no physical gift at all to give the kindness that is needed at a particular moment. We don't say "peace on earth, goodstuff towards men."
Over two thousand years ago, a baby was born to bring goodwill to men and to teach us to "bear one another's burdens that they may be light." This Christmas, another baby boy is teaching our family that lesson in an unforgettable way. James may not be home in time for Christmas, but the Christmas spirit his presence is bringing extends far beyond his hospital room to already hundreds, if not thousands of people. Thank you to all those who have embodied this truth and have lent or will continue to lend a helping hand to Daniel's sister and her family. Especially, thank you to James, for softening my heart at this time of hustle and bustle to remind me what "goodwill towards men" really means. I can't wait until you are home and adding your own squeals to the absolutely ridiculous noise levels that earmark all our family gatherings. You have a lot of cousins--even more than seven!