| Although small and seasoned with age, it is in mint | | | | Curious to learn more, I contacted the hospital |
| condition. I have studied it perhaps as much as a | | | | where I was born and spoke with hospital |
| textbook when I prepared to take a test. | | | | representatives. That is how I learned the official |
| Seventeen years ago, Mom had given to me a | | | | name of the tiny card, as well as how the cards |
| tiny layette card that detailed the story about my | | | | are provided free of charge to the hospital for |
| first birth day. I immediately placed it in a | | | | families in their facility. |
| miniature cedar chest for safe keeping. | | | | An antique, my tiny layette card is unique |
| Actually, it was quite safe because I had | | | | because I have not yet spoken with anyone else |
| forgotten about it until a few months ago. On a | | | | who received or remembers a similar type of |
| quiet afternoon at home, I rediscovered the | | | | card with Pet Milk Company listed in the last line |
| miniature card while looking through a collection of | | | | of text on the card. In addition to the name of |
| photographs, journals and souvenirs in my | | | | the company, a miniature picture of their milk |
| miniature cedar chest. | | | | product was also displayed. |
| Recorded in cursive handwriting in blue ink on a | | | | Last Saturday, I had the privilege of playing Bingo |
| pink card, I savored the precious gift of life my | | | | with my mom and her friends at church. The |
| mom and dad had given me. Reading all the details | | | | passage of time was easy to see in all of our |
| on the card, I learned seven things about my first | | | | faces and bodies. |
| birth day: | | | | We all are seasoned with age; however, last |
| 1) The hospital room number where nurses and | | | | week I also saw another picture of the heart I |
| doctors took care of my mother, and me; | | | | had not previously understood. |
| 2) The length and weight of my body; | | | | A verse in Proverbs states, "As water reflects |
| 3) The breadth of my head and chest; | | | | the face, so one's heart reflects the person." |
| 4) The name of the doctor who delivered me; | | | | Gazing around the room, tears welled in my eyes. |
| 5) The name of the hospital; | | | | I sensed a new appreciation for life and my family |
| 6) The city and state of my birth; and | | | | who loved and cared for me. |
| 7) The company who provided the canned Pet | | | | Although it was a quiet afternoon, I silently heard |
| milk formula for me and the other babies born | | | | a story about the precious gift of life, which was |
| that year. | | | | loud and clear. Think about it. |