Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “The wonderful thing about opinions is that no one has to agree with mine.”
As we hurtle headlong into celebrating the birth of baby Jesus on Wednesday, an explosion of the population outside of Bethlehem is helping with perspective.
Just as a refresher, here is the greatest news story of all time, straight from Luke, Chapter 2.
“She was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger - there was no room for them to stay in the inn.”
Three new Shurmurs have joined the extended clan in the month of December.
Cousin Pat and wife Jennifer are first-time grandparents times THREE.
Son Kyle Shurmur, a Buffalo Bills assistant coach, and wife Lexi (Smith) were college sweethearts at Vanderbilt.
They were first in the baby parade with the arrival of Mari Williams “Billie” Shurmur on December 3.
Next came Kyle’s sister, Allyson Shurmur Villanaeve and her husband, Pierre. She went into labor in Bloomingdale’s and Eleonore Claire was born December 8.
Allyson’s sister, Erica Shurmur Simpson and husband, Trey, finished the trifecta with Carter Patrick on December 12.
The babies are in Buffalo, New York City and Philly, so I am anxiously awaiting pictures of the three cousins together.
As on the go as the moms are, I am guessing I won’t have long to wait.
This makes now six extended Shurmur December birthdays.
Sister Susie and husband, John Plumb, had two December babies - Hattie on December 24 and Jack on December 26.
Our brother, Scott and wife, Vickie, had Robin on December 25.
Since their first birthdays, I thought it would be fun to send them cash equal to their age.
I remember when splitting a $10 bill was plenty.
This week, $73 went in the mail (27, 21 and 25).
When my Joe was in first grade at St. Anthony’s School, there was some kind of program in the basement of the church.
Molly was just an infant.
One of Joe’s classmates came and got Molly and toted her around the room.
She returned at one point and said, “I am going to marry Joe and this is our baby.”
I have never forgotten that.
This month, the 40-year-old precocious little blonde delivered healthy twin girls in Georgia, adding two girls to their toddler son household.
I wrote something similar in my previous life and got blasted.
This is my opinion.
It’s never a bad time to have a baby.
You might be broke or alone or scared or all three, but all babies deserve life. All. Every one.
Don’t worry about the mountain of gifts unwrapped or your filthy house without the maids available.
It’s all about the baby in the stable. That’ll all there is. And that’s plenty.
“There were some shepherds spending the night in that part of the country. An Angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone over them. The angel said to them, ‘I am here with good news for you. This very day in David’s town your Savior was born - Christ the Lord!’”
Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at: SallyAnnShurmur@gmail.com
