Serving…HICCUPS?

Last week I had the hiccups. I hate hiccups. Hate is a strong word, and I rarely use it. But for hiccups, it seems the most appropriate descriptive I can use to  articulate this most unwelcome inconvenience.

Noah was laughing. Of course he was. He was not the one with stomach-jolting eruptions every ten seconds. Sitting on opposite ends of the couch lasted but ten minutes once my hiccups ensued. Noah scooted closer. Leaning closer into my arm, he settled his head on my shoulder –such a sweet gesture. He’s a real sweetie!  I drew in a deep breath to relish the moment.  It’s just that the moment didn’t last. 

H-I-C-C-U-P!

“Mom…hiccups!” And…laughter.

“Yes, Noah…”

“Water, please.”

“Are you thirsty, Noah?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I could use some water, too, Noah.”

I turned my attention back to my laptop as he walked away. A couple minutes later, still trying to suppress the chest jerking spasms, a blue plastic cup was shoved in my face. I look up to see my sweet boy with a full cup of water. With one hand behind my head, and the other tipping the blue cup ever so carefully up toward my mouth, cool water trickled onto my tongue.

“Thank you, Noah!” I took the cup from him, and after taking a few more sips, I handed it back to him. And he chugged it. He really was thirsty! His water was gone, and so were my hiccups!

Sometimes I wonder if Noah and Judah will understand what it means to give, to serve. Are they aware of the needs of other people as well as their own? I think to myself, Will they ever be able to break out of their own little worlds and see to reach out, not for themselves, but for the sake of others? 

I guess so.   🙂