“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired,”
~Terri (age 4)
(Email dated 11/17/2011)
From the time my first son turned 14, I soon realized that putting a guitar in a boy’s hand (and perhaps girls too, I just don’t have any girl children) is just like giving them their first dump truck… They take to it like a duck to water!! But, when I looked into the price of guitar lessons, I soon realized that was not in my disposable income price range… The braces on my children’s teeth took care of that!!
My oldest son took free lessons in a guitar class held by his High School but my younger son had no such opportunity. I heard about a national program called “Guitars Not Guns.” This program gives children a creative outlet to showcase their talents in a positive way as well as gives them mentors and builds their connections to the community.
The first class that I took my son to was amazing! It was taught by a 16-year old with a Mohawk!! My kid was hooked, this wasn’t some adult saying… play this, this was a cool dude sporting a Mohawk!! To top it off, I found out if each participating child attends all 6 classes, they walk away with a guitar of their very own to bring home and to keep them motivated to play guitar rather than roam the streets.
This is all great, right? But… something else happened… there were two little boys, one was 11 and one was 13. The 13 year old hovered over the 11 year old (as in protecting) and did all the talking. I introduced myself to the boys and of course gravitated right to the shy one.
After exchanging a few smiles, and getting closer and closer to him… he spoke to me. He asked me, “Are you going to be here next time too?” If you want me to be then I will, is what I told him.
Before class was over, a disheveled woman with sadness and pain in her eyes and features, rushed in to collect these two boys as though they were laundry being picked up in a rush from the cleaners. It was awkward and sudden and felt wrong to me. I also thought it was a shame that she couldn’t wait 15 minutes and let her sons finish class. I wanted to help her, but felt powerless.
When she left, the program director told me that she had just gotten custody back and the boys had been in foster care for several months until just a couple days prior.
My heart went out to those boys, especially the shy one. Before the little one left, he ran up to me and wrapped his arms around my leg… of all things, as in a kind of awkward and low hug… it was adorable and I melted! He said, “See you next time!”
I came into work the next day and told everyone about this class and these two adorable boys that I couldn’t wait to see next session!! I could still feel the little squeeze of a hug on my leg and those brown eyes looking up at me, almost pleading like.
The next class I was there with treats even!! Some granola bars and some juice to surprise my new friends with… I waited and waited. My son sat and played and learned from the cool teen instructor… And I watched out the window. Those boys never came back… Ever…
A couple weeks later after doing my best to investigate the situation and find these boys… I was told that once again they were in foster care. Due to confidentiality, that was all I could know. I quickly sent a “Guitars Not Guns” program brochure and schedule to every foster care agency in my area… but I have never seen either of those boys again…
Tragedy, right??? Not so much because somewhere there is a little boy that knows that the Y is here to support him and the people that work for the Y and wear the funny Y logos are here to love him. I vow to be that one source of light, even if it’s fleeting…. to every child who needs to know that someone cares. I will never stop caring, even if I never see Joshua again.
And that’s from my heart!! XO ~Taurie, Golden State YMCA
Stewardship is not about taking time out to do stewardly things. Rather it is about living our lives as Christian Stewards 24/7/365. This comes from the recognition that all our time on this earth is God’s time. But even the best of us need reminders.
One of those reminders comes through our signs and symbols. Symbols are not always specifically religious however. Because of Taurie, the Y logo became a symbol of something good, reassuring and meaningful to an eleven year old boy.
As Christians we often display crosses or a crucifix. Our crosses remind us that God loves us, NO MATTER WHAT, profoundly demonstrated by allowing His Son to die for us. In turn, we too are called to love others, NO MATTER WHAT.
As we enter this new year, let us resolve ourselves to be like Taurie - to be a light to others, to the world. To care when no one else seems to and to know, that sometimes no matter what we do, or how hard we try, things will not play out the way we had hoped. But above all, to NEVER STOP CARING! We may well be the only light in the life of another.
Dear God: Bless everyone in whatever it is that you know they may need this day.
“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” ~Bobby (age 7)
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