--- title: When Mercy Pours from a Plastic Baby Shoe description: Kaitlyn Mason shares the impact of hosting baby showers for women in crisis pregnancies, and how Christ's mercy can be demonstrated in the smallest ways. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/11/18/mercy-pours-plastic-baby-shoe#) # When Mercy Pours from a Plastic Baby Shoe Nov 18, 2016 4:00:32 AM  |  by [Kaitlyn Clare Mason](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kaitlyn-clare-mason) ![Untitled design (3)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Untitled-design-3-550x260.png?width=550&height=260&name=Untitled-design-3-550x260.png) Photo copyright 2016 Kaitlyn Mason. All rights reserved. Image created with Canva. It was a tiny, plastic, light blue baby shoe.  Its cash value was likely not more than about 10 cents. But this woman held it in her hands, looked up at me, and asked, “Would it be okay if I keep this?” “Absolutely,” I said. “Take any of the decorations home that you’d like. They’re yours to keep.” She was so grateful. She proceeded to tell me that she was going to put this little shoe in a small box that she keeps on her nightstand. “This will be a reminder for me of an answered prayer! Oh, I prayed and prayed for this!” she exclaimed, as she held the little shoe tightly in her hands, pressing it against her chest. She looked like she might burst into tears. She went on to explain that her small box held many memories and special items. This plastic shoe would be joining their company. You see, this woman was the grandmother at one of our [Mary Garden Showers](http://marygardenshowers.org/). And because of the crisis situation going on, she didn’t know if she would ever meet her grandson. But she did meet her grandson. And she loves him very much. For this woman, the baby shower that was held in celebration of her daughter and grandson was a complete answered prayer. It was the icing on the cake of her daughter’s decision to give birth to the gift of her son. Many of the women we have showered through [Mary Garden Showers](http://marygardenshowers.org/) have politely asked if they could keep the decorations from their baby showers. This is about so much more than simply decorations. I can see it in each mother’s eyes as she holds a little baby shower banner or asks to take home her pink cups and sweet, decorated napkins. Yes, this is about so much more than the gifts, the treats, the lemonade, and the decorations. This is about Christ’s mercy.  This is about bringing people back to Him where they belong.  This is about extending Christ’s mercy to absolutely everyone simply because they have dignity and worth as a human being. And that mercy sometimes is poured out to these mothers in the smallest ways:  a smile from a stranger, the warmth of a friendship, fresh baked goods, a sense of community, sweet lemonade… [Tweet "Christ’s mercy can even be poured out from a tiny plastic baby shoe. With @maviecatholique"] Christ’s mercy can even be poured out from a tiny, plastic, light blue baby shoe. Visit [marygardenshowers.org](http://marygardenshowers.org) for information about how you can get involved with this ministry, and how you can bring it to your parish. P.S.  God is merciful and He loves you!  Pass it on… ![Love the Mother](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Love-the-Mother-400x400-1.png?width=400&height=400&name=Love-the-Mother-400x400-1.png) Copyright 2016 Kaitlyn Mason. Image created with Canva. *Copyright 2016 Kaitlyn Mason* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F11%2F18%2Fmercy-pours-plastic-baby-shoe%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F11%2F18%2Fmercy-pours-plastic-baby-shoe%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F11%2F18%2Fmercy-pours-plastic-baby-shoe%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=When%20Mercy%20Pours%20from%20a%20Plastic%20Baby%20Shoe) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F11%2F18%2Fmercy-pours-plastic-baby-shoe%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F11%2F18%2Fmercy-pours-plastic-baby-shoe%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Kaitlyn Clare Mason](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/klaremason.png) ### [Kaitlyn Clare Mason](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kaitlyn-clare-mason) Kaitlyn Clare Mason is founder of [Mary Garden Showers](http://marygardenshowers.org), a national ministry sharing Christ's mercy with women and families in crisis pregnancies. Author, songwriter, and homesteader, she is blessed to be a wife and the mother of four children. She writes to help you trust & serve the world through your home at [KaitlynClareMason.com](http://kaitlynclaremason.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ 8 Reasons to Host a Shower for a Woman in a Crisis Pregnancy Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/06/17/8-reasons-host-shower-woman-crisis-pregnancy) [ Mary's Vital Role in the Pro-Life Movement Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/02/19/marys-vital-role-pro-life-movement/) [ Want a Woman to Choose Life? Choose to Love the Woman! Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/05/20/want-woman-choose-life-choose-love-woman) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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