Baby Season

Br Erik Burckel, LC

It’s baby season in my family. Babies have not been in style in my family for three or four years, and there hasn’t been a birth in more than fifteen. My little brother Joseph, age 5, is adopted, and provides the most recent memory of a Burckel baby. Allison, 15, hasn’t been classified as a baby for more than a dozen years. This drought ended months ago with the news that my sister and my sister-in-law were both expecting.

This past month, Luke and Roman were born! They arrived only five days apart, and two new lives have thus begun. I know that my sister and her husband are happy to have a baby, but their lives have changed now. All their time will be spent taking care of the wonderful gift they have received. My brother and his wife also look forward to sharing their lives with Luke, especially the essentials like the movie Treasure Island and Alabama football.

But what about me? How does baby season affect me? Eight months ago back in March, we celebrated the feast of the Annunciation, when Mary assented to the angel Gabriel’s message from God, and Christ was incarnated in her womb. God has sent his Son to earth by way of Mary, who is due this month! I hope to be ready for him when he comes. Like my sister, I want to spend all my time serving him, being with him. Like my brother, I want to share with him my own life and all the things and people I appreciate. I invite you to join my family as we prepare for baby number three. Christmas will be here soon, so enjoy the season.

Br Erik studies humanities at the Legion’s novitiate and college of humanities in Cheshire, Connecticut.

Image credit: Angela Vincent on Flickr.