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Sitting in the doctor’s office waiting for what felt
like an eternity, I glanced through parenting magazines passing the time. As I sat there with a room full of
strangers, I couldn’t help but imagine what life was going to be like with our
new little one. We had tried to be
pregnant for three years. The time had come and I
was at my final appointment, when another young mom to be caught my eye. We started a conversation about pregnancy and due dates. Once I talked with her it
became clear our lives were very different. I had just had
a baby shower that was large and we received more than I could even
use.
I learned she did not have family support and there was no dad
involved. She hadn't been blessed by a shower of gifts from friends and
family. We both were having boys. What could I do for this girl I had
just met?
I left that day knowing I had to do something for her. I only had a few days left before our own blessed event. I wanted to focus on my own needs, but how could I let
her be alone? I decided to give her a
baby shower in a box! I had read about it once and thought I could add my own special touch to it.
Here is what I did:
I found a huge box: I
wrapped it in baby paper and left the top open
Inside I made a large diaper cake. This was one of my most favorite gifts I had
received. A diaper cake is not only cute,
it is fun. If you don’t think you can
make a diaper cake order one online. You won’t regret it.
- A Diaper Cake
- A magazine about parenting
- A pacifier
- Baby Booties
- Add slippers. Every
new mom needs slippers
- Make sure to include a swaddling blanket for the new baby
- Include the essentials:
Baby shampoo, baby lotion, and baby diaper rash ointment
- Baby wash cloths are often forgotten and can serve both at
bath time and as a great spit-up rag
- A gift certificate to a local coffee house is always a
special treat
My
shower in the box was almost complete. I
let a few girlfriends know what I was doing and they begged to add a little
sleeper and outfit too.
I left the “shower in a box” at my doctors office not
knowing her address or phone number. It was
almost a month later I received a note from this dear new mommy. I will never forget how I felt giving the fun gift box, and I will never forget how it felt reading
her thank you note. As I gazed into my
new son's eyes I prayed often for her little one and felt blessed to be part of
his new welcoming into the world.
Have you ever done anything for someone else? It is so
satisfying that you will not regret it. Look around for people in your
neighborhood, your church and your doctor’s offices. There are people out there
that are hurting and lonely. If we all decided to look outside ourselves for
just a bit each day, what kind of a difference would we make? How could we
start changing people’s lives. Sometimes
it just a simple wave or smile that may change someone’s day. I challenge you
to look outside yourself, give to others and you will be blessed as well.
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