Coincidence

“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” -Einstein

Time and chance can be strange bedfellows.  My husband and I were sitting at a Foster Parent Association training at our local DSS.  I was bouncing a sweet baby on my lap.  She had just entered foster care.  On top of that, she was the first child to come into our home.  I was doing my best to focus on the class. But the chubby cheeks before me were a delightful distraction.  I guess that’s why I didn’t notice someone walking behind me.   Then I jumped a little when someone tapped me on the shoulder.  I’ve always been one to startle easily.

“Are you Ms. Verwers?”  I suddenly felt like a kid wondering how to answer.   Did I do something wrong?

“Yes. That’s me.  Can I help you? ”

“The baby’s mom is here and would like to see her.”  I was a little befuddled and a lot unprepared as I followed her though a maze of gray cubicles where two women sat nervously.

“Baby,”  the mother reached out and started kissing baby as grandma sat nearby, trying to hold back tears.  I introduced myself and asked about any allergies or things I should know.

“She likes to dance,” mom said.

“Oh yes, we noticed that.  If there’s a beat she starts shakin’ it.”  We smiled for a moment, our lives now intertwined because of this little dancing baby.

I spent the next 40 minutes or so with this family.   Even though I missed the class,  I was learning.   When baby came to us, it was all about her.   There in that cubical it became clear this was about her and her family.     The fact that I just happened to be attending class while the caseworker was developing a family plan was a coincidence.  Baby was home in three months.  Yes, time and chance are strange bedfellows.