Today my daughter’s school had its annual open house. Before we toured the classroom, we went downstairs with the children to the building’s adult day care center for the elderly and disabled. A bluegrass band plays there every other Friday, and we were excited finally to see the group we’ve heard so much about. Our girl danced ecstatically in front of us, decked out for this special day in her Christmas outfit.
One of the elders sitting in front of us asked us again and again which child was ours. Each time she inquired, she smiled innocently, seated in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank. We answered her repeatedly, as patiently as we could, while also trying to enjoy this rare glimpse into our daughter’s world at school. About half-way through the second song, a volunteer came over and asked the elder to dance. He moved her oxygen line to the side so it would be safe. Then he raised her slowly out of her wheelchair, her arms around his shoulders. The two of them swayed to the song, her back to us. The man’s face betrayed no strain, though it must have taken great strength to support the entirety of his weight and hers. He kept his tall frame low, aware of her smaller size and inability to stand erect. I fought back tears at the scene before me. My daughter, between her twirls and leaps, was visibly touched, too. That we should all be so fortunate to have someone bear our weight in times of great vulnerability so that we may feel the warmth of belonging.
Our most fervent prayers as parents might be to instill in our children the sentiment in the two quotes below:
“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass — it’s
about learning how to dance in the rain.”
Vivian Greene
“The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will
have sought and found how to serve.”
Albert Schweitzer