Felix Navidad

     Tonight an angel came by.  He came in the shape of Kendall, a 7 year old boy
dressed as Balthasar.  With his hand made crown decorated with markers and glitter and his homemade robe, he lit up the room like the North Star one faith-filled night.  He was so proud of himself. His shining moment.  I taught Kendall this fall and he is a boy long on smiles and smarts, but short on attention. Most of the time he is being corrected and told to sit still.  Sound familiar?
     Not tonight. Tonight he stood tall  among the sheep made from cotton balls and socks for hooves. Among, Jesus and Mary, all giggles and shyness. An American boy dressed in a robe and a Santa's hat, narrating and encouraging the younger ones. Christmas songs in Spanish sung by the tiniest of voices. There was Kendall, smiling and singing all the words. Such pride in this simplest of pageants. Babies were crying, children were waving but Kendal was doing exactly what he was supposed to do.  He knew all the words in Spanish and English.  He stayed on task.  He shone.


     Amazing what can happen when the restraints are gone.


     So Merry Christmas to Vielka, Veronica, Allison and Danny.  Felize Navidad to Allysia, Christine and those darling little pre-schoolers. I hope you all find something in your stocking. 
      To you dear Kendall, I wish you the world. With the knowledge that you shone tonight and you will shine again. Just never, never sit still.