Courage

Gabriel had quite a final week of January.  We had already known that his class would be heading up the Friday morning school Mass.  He was given the first reading, just like in Kindergarten.  It was also Catholic Schools Week, so they had activities planned during school all week.  Service projects on Monday, school-wide prayers and Rosaries, a 7th grade Science Fair, and two Spelling Bees, grades 1-3 and 4-8.  Then certain students were chosen by the principal to read the bible readings, prayers of the faithful, and announcements during weekend Masses to wrap up the week.  Gabriel was chosen to do the first Reading for the Saturday Mass, which is the one we normally attend and where we are starting to know many people.  I was so proud of him for being selected.  His reading was a long one, with some big words, so along with school practices with the principal we started practicing at home.  It was one BUSY week!

Friday Jav and I attended the 1st Grade Mass, led by their awesome teacher, Ms. Thome.  Gabriel read his excerpt very well.  The whole class did a fantastic job!  It is always a neat experience to go to these Masses, because our priest, Father Paul, very much involves the kids all throughout.  He asks questions and all of these red-sweater-clad arms shoot up, hoping he will call on them.  He knows many kids, but if he's not sure of a name he calls them Mija or Mijo.  We also have a fantastic music director, Mrs. Pastusek, that leads the choir, guitar players, and various other instrument players.  She was Jav's music teacher also!  But she was just out of college when she started, so is still going strong.

Father Paul had all of us first-grader-moms bawling, referring to the fact that just yesterday we were holding these kids, and having to leave Mass because they were being fussy babies, and now here they are doing readings for Mass.  Sniff, sniff!  He also made a point to tell almost all of them, by name, what a great job they had done.  Afterwards we got to go up and hug Gabriel.  We took pics of the whole class, and one re-enactment picture (seen below).  And although Joel told us later in the day how proud he was of his "bwother", we didn't want Joel to see us while at Mass.  He is just starting to figure out how to be truly quiet, and sit still.  If he were to see us, I think all that good work would immediately be undone because Lord knows he wouldn't be as good for us as he is for the teachers and helpers.

I'm always on a little high when I leave those Masses.  Partly because I'm so proud of Gabriel, and amazed by his neverending courage when it comes to speaking in front of large groups.  But it is also a really good feeling to know that our kids are growing up in that environment.  Not only are they surrounded by wonderful teachers who care, but by an entire church as well.  It is worth every penny we are having to scrape together to do this.

The same day, just after lunch, I dropped off Joel at his Tita's and headed back up to the school for the 1st - 3rd grade Spelling Bee.  Gabriel had been a shoe-in, originally, but then faltered during the week and almost didn't make it in.  We practiced a little, but since we only had a week there just wasn't time to do that much.  Can you say, "Too much stuff packed into one week?"  Ya think?

He made it through one round, then missed one.  I don't even remember the word now.  All the first graders were out by the third round.  One of his friends from Scouts who is in the 2nd grade won.  It was fun to be there and watch - even though I was surprised there were not more parents there.

Then on to Saturday.  All students attending weekend Mass were to wear their dress uniforms, so both boys looked really cute.  Saturday Mass is not usually as packed as some of the other Masses, but it was a nice size crowd.  G leaned over just before Mass started and whispered, "I'm a little nervous."  I told him that it would be weird for him not to be nervous, but to do his best and I knew he'd do a great job.  When it was time he marched right up to that stage with his principal, Mrs. Krick.  And proceeded to read slowly, clearly and with meaning.  He even made eye contact with the audience several times.  He.  Amazed.  Me.  The kid was born to be on a stage! 

So many people came up afterwards to tell him what a great job he did that I lost count.  And boy, does he love that part of the experience. Even the following week, we had some stragglers come up and complement him.  And although I know Gabriel deserved all of that credit, I also think it is a testimony of how wonderful our parish is.  Always supporting, building up and filling up these kids.   Those complements will keep in his head, and will help propel him past the nervousness next time he needs to get up on a stage.  But they also are just one more source of acceptance and love.  Don't we all need as much of that as we can get?

Gabriel had earned six free ice cream treats at our neighborhood Braums, and four free personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut, all for his reading abilities.  This past week I surprised him and took him to Braums to use one of them.  It was just he and I, and I got to spend one-on-one time with this special kid.  While we chatted and laughed, I marveled at the person he is turning into.  Funny beyond belief, with the same sarcastic wit that I have.  Stubborn and convinced he is right about everything.  (Not sure where he gets that trait).  Smart and constantly curious.  Kind and thoughtful.  And so, so courageous.  Now it doesn't bother me so much, but when I was his age I think I would rather have someone poke red-hot pokers in my eyes than get up in front of people and do ANYTHING.  His father is still that way to this day.  I am so very proud of Gabriel for laughing in the face of his nervousness, and being so brave.