Marcos speaks to our children in Spanish, but usually English is the default language in our home. The kids understand Spanish, but don't speak it fluently. Dylan is pretty close to fluent at this point though thanks to his amazing experience of traveling to Argentina with Marcos when he was 8 years old. He rarely shies away from a challenge and he got super brave speaking Spanish to everyone and anyone with his little kid American accent during his 3 week stay in Argentina. And so it was that our family set off on the adventure of a lifetime. My son, staring in a play in a language he barely knew, and my husband rocking the testimony of Pedro in a powerful and beautiful way you would have had to see to believe. I worked with Dylan on his speaking and singing lines. He spoke some Spanish at this point, but he certainly did not read or write it yet. And so I taught him. I taught him to sound out the words in Spanish and to read and memorize and speak those lines like a pro. Dylan is a rock star and learned much more quickly than I could have ever expected!! It was an emotional time, but one of incredible growth and beauty. I got to see my husband and my son shine from a distance.
What I didn't put together until rehearsals and performances was the fact that although Marcos and Dylan were doing this play together, Dylan was part of Act I and Marcos was part of Act II. Their parts did not overlap at all. I had a friend whose husband and son were part of our stake's performance of Savior of the World years ago, but her son and husband were both shepherds and rehearsed together. That was not the case for Marcos and Dylan. My 10 year old was with a group of strangers learning lines in a language that was still new to him. Just the thought of it brings tears to my eyes even now. When I watched my boy go on stage without his father by his side, my heart sunk. Please let him pull this off. I know he can do it. During one performance, Dylan tripped going up a set of stairs to his next stage position where he would deliver more lines. He caught himself, but his leg was hurt. He kept going like a pro. Delivered his lines and no one was the wiser. After the scene, he was mad at himself. He was incredibly hard on himself backstage in between his scenes. He was embarrassed. He felt like a failure. But his dad couldn't comfort him. He was on stage by the time Dylan was off stage. And I was in the audience with three kids and no one to watch wild Caleb. I know my son well. I could feel his sense of disappointment from a distance. I prayed for him. I cheered him on in my heart. And I hoped he would have what he needed to pull through. What he had was a new family. A shepherd family. A group of friends that had become incredibly dear to him during his months of practices and rehearsals. They encouraged him. They helped him make it through when he didn't want to continue.
Dylan's favorite shepherd was a guy named Jesus (pronounced Hey-Seuss in Spanish...as in Hey Dr. Seuss, but without the Dr 😉). For whatever reason, Dylan gravitated toward Jesus and Jesus to Dylan. They were like friends from another lifetime. Like brothers. I like to call this kind of friend a kindred spirit (Anne of Green Gables, ya know). Someone you meet for the first time and feel like you have known them forever. I've had this experience several times in my life. Sometimes it is an individual with a similar life calling. Other times, it is someone who will prove to be by my side during a difficult trial or life experience. It's hard to understand why when you first meet, but whenever I find myself with a person like this coming into my life, I give thanks. And that is what I did when Dylan met Jesus. He was there to love him and encourage him when he got down or frustrated about his lines. He reminded him just how amazing he was when Dylan could not see past his mistakes or slip-ups. Jesus was a true blessing to Dylan. He even spoiled him with a remote control car...AND a tablet. Yes! Jesus was definitely like the older brother Dylan never had who spoils the younger brother simply because he loves him.
Jesus is married and has two adorable little boys now. But our paths once again crossed during Marcos's indoor soccer games the past month or so. Jesus is often there playing or watching the mens' games. Dylan went to watch Marcos play the past two weeks and the two of them reconnected. It makes my heart so happy to see Dylan reconnect with a friend that meant so much to him. It's one of those friendships where you may not be in each other's lives the same way anymore, but the friendship remains strong and forever bonded by an experience long ago.
Thank you, Jesus, for being such an amazing friend to Dylan! Thank you for loving and supporting my boy at a time when my role was in the bleachers watching, cheering and keeping young children and a wild toddler alive. 😜 A few things have clearly changed, but Dylan's love and appreciation for his dear friend have not. You mean the world to our entire family! Thank you for being you!! We love you more than you will ever know!!
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