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So 203 hours ago I had my second baby. It was an amazing, magical experience…. And as to be expected the first week home has been a sleepless, wonderful, crazy, milky, tearful, smiley, poopy, cuddly, cooing, happy adventure! But despite the madness that comes with the first week of welcoming a baby home, I have managed to be out and about much more than with baby number one. And on these outings, I met three amazing strangers who taught me three amazing things that sunk deep, and I have been thinking about ever since I talked to them!

Stranger #1: Target Starbucks Line, Woman, Estimated Age 49

She asked how old baby was, acted shocked to learn that baby was three days old, and offered kudos for how I looked and was acting for having just got out of the hospital. It was when I told her that my husband was “my knight in shining armor” and the reason that I was surviving so well that she shared the lesson: “I didn’t have that experience with my husband when I had our 2 babies. I did things alone – that’s probably why he’s not my husband anymore.” Then she looked at my husband and I and told us “the way you treat her and help her during this time will go far in your marriage. Keep it up! It’s priceless!”

Lesson learned: Value, honor, serve, and love your spouse! It’s what strengthens you now for the future! Lack of this could lead to unintended outcomes!

Stranger #2: Walking in my neighborhood, Woman, Estimated age 70

I’ve seen this woman walking her dog before, and honestly she has always been so kind to me even as I rushed by and didn’t stop to give her the same conversation she wanted to offer me. This time, I remembered the words I heard at church this weekend “Jesus took time for people’s interruptions”. I knew this was an opportunity. She met baby girl, offered congratulations, and shared her story: She is an immigrant from Yemen. She wanted to have 12 children because of the value they place on family, but instead when they were young her husband became very ill and they were only able to have one “miracle boy” as she called him. She said, “Life goes on”. I don’t know if her husband is alive, but she still loves children by working at a daycare in the baby room three days a week. She offered to help us babysit if ever we need it. I’m glad I stopped for this “interruption” today.

Lesson Learned: Children are precious – so value them and treat them as miracles! You never know what will happen in life so choose to be happy as “life goes on”! Find a way to live out your passion even if it’s not how you anticipated! “Interruptions” are a blessing!

Stranger #3: Walking in my Neighborhood, Woman, Estimated age 60

You know how sometimes you can judge someone without talking to them and knowing their story? Yeah, that was me with this person on the previous times I had seen them walking. Silent, not responding to my “hellos”, and seemingly avoiding conversation or eye contact. I guess the sight of me holding a newborn sparked something in this woman today, because while I was expecting the same reaction as previous encounters, her immediate response upon seeing baby was “Oh my goodness! How old?!” This led to a 15-minute conversation where I learned this woman has just lost her husband who passed away and moved across country away from her children. My heart broke. I understood why she was not so talkative the previous times I had passed her. As we talked about babies, and family and life, she looked me and my husband in the eye and told us “Love your family, raise your children well, enjoy your time together, and that’s the best thing you can do!” I had to hold my tears back. We aren’t strangers anymore, and I look forward to seeing her again on our future walks.

Lesson Learned: Everyone is facing something difficult, so don’t judge them before you know what it is! Loving people well is the best thing you can do!

This week with my baby girl has been amazing. I am so thankful for every moment of it. And I’m thankful that because of her life, in unexpected ways and moments, and through unexpected people, God orchestrated meetings to teach me just a little more about life, it’s goodness, and things that really matter.

I’m going to keep my ears open, and be ready for more interruptions. You never know what lessons are waiting for you when you least expect them!