Luca

Our Lady cradles Jesus

I just got back from picking up lunch on my break.  While I was waiting in line, a father came over to the condiment counter for napkins in order to wipe his son's face.  The little boy was about Vincent's age.  I smiled at him, and he smiled back with this huge, "the world is amazing" grin.  I laughed to myself and gave his father an appreciative nod - he's raising a beautiful little boy.

The little boy's older brother came over and "nuggied" his head.  The younger brother giggled as the older tousled his hair, then they both ran off to play.  Their father called after them, "Vince, make sure you look after Luca."

And even remembering him calling that out makes me choke up.

I understand why I immediately felt like a ton of bricks smashed against my chest, but it still catches me off-guard.

Those little moments when I become so overcome with jealousy and grief that I don't think I can resume breathing... they give no warning.  They spring upon me with no sympathy for where I am or who might see my heart break.

Luca.  It wasn't even Vince's name as the older brother that knifed me to my core.  It was Luca's... the little one who is about Vince's age.  As soon as I heard his name, my heart first melted.  What a beautiful name, I thought.  I'd love to have a little Luca. 

That tender appreciation for such a simple, eloquent name quickly turned into intense longing and grief.  Yes, I admit there was jealousy there.  But it isn't as if I wanted to snatch the child away from his father and run home.  It wasn't as if I was envious to the point of wishing he were mine instead of belonging to that family.  I was just a little jealous that they got to have a Luca and I did not. 

Then I tried to console myself with the fact that my next little one wouldn't have been a Luca anyway.  If we were to have another boy, he'd've been a Nathan.  But Luca... something about that little boy's name was like a fire-brand to my heart.  It just made me long for a newborn and painfully aware of my inability to have one. 

And then came all the familiar self-assaults:  You're cheating Vincent out of siblings.  You're disappointing your parents (in-laws, too) because they deserve to have the grandkids they, too, long for.  You're with-holding playmates from Arianna and Alliya.  You're cheating yourself out of the fullness of your motherhood.  You're... you're... you're!!!

So for those of you who ask me how I do it... or say I'm a saint for dealing with John, I assure you... I'm no saint.  This is a daily struggle that sometimes becomes almost impossible.  It attacks when you least expect it, and it's a daunting challenge to contain the interior emotions that threaten to suffocate you.  My only advice to those of you (men and women alike) who are struggling with this cross - immediately call out to Our Lady.  Offer it and just accept those sudden moments of unbearable emotional lashing as atonement for someone on the brink of mortal sin. 

That thought gives me solace.

Maybe, just maybe, God allows us those tiny moments of sacrifice for someone half-way around the globe in need of spiritual assistance.  I imagine that's what Christ clung to as He stumbled under the weight of the Cross along Calvary. 

Hang on... call out for assistance.  Those are the moments in which we are closest to Him.  As such, hand over those moments immediately for whatever uses He needs them for.  In return, He will promptly give you the graces necessary to prop yourself back up again.

You might not feel it right away... but in time, peace will settle back into your heart.

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