Joy to the World

This past Sunday was our church Christmas program. This yearly event causes excitement in the children (Santa stops by to visit after lunch) and massive anxiety for the parents. It's an unwritten rule that if you take a group of children and put them in front of a group of family and friends, out of reach of their parents, you will have some embarrassing moments. Knowing my grandsons as well as I did, I knew who would be wiggling in their seats with stressful anticipation.

The children lined up across the front of the church. They were certainly an angelic looking group. The ages ranged from three to nine years old. Our wonderful Brazilian friends had worked hard with this group and seen to it that each child had an opportunity to shine in the spotlight. The five year old grandson had been practicing his solo part every night before bed for weeks. The three year old had been practicing standing still. The five year old knew his part perfectly. The three year old was still practicing.

The program began with the clear, childish voices lifted in the old familiar songs. My two were the picture of earnest devotion as they sang their hearts out. The program moved on and it was the five year old's turn to sing with the microphone. He stepped up and did a beautiful job, although maybe just a little ahead of the music. The three year old grabbed for the microphone but a quick move passed it safely on to the next child to sing. The resumed their singing, standing straight and tall.

Sometime around the ten minute mark in the program the three year old got bored. Being a brother, he did what he usually did when he was bored, he started picking on his older sibling. With no change in expression he side-stepped into his brother and gave him a little shove. The older brother just moved over and kept singing. Another step. Another shove. No response yet. After a couple of more tries with no success he decided that maybe stepping on his toes would work.

About this time grandma, in the back of the church taking pictures, started giving him the "look". That glare perfected by parents everywhere that can immobilize a child from across the room. The three year old looked slyly at a point over my head and three other kids quit singing, fearing they were the recipient of the furious glare. Toe stepping didn't work so he decided to try poking his brother. Brother is getting a little red in the face but is still determined to be "good" and trying to ignore the pest.

About this time one of the older girls leans over and tells him to quit. He's no dummy, he knows she is too young to have any real authority. Daddy is now pointing his finger and frowning mightily. Mama is using her best "glare", which is usually pretty effective. Three more children quit singing and start to look frightened. One looks like he might start to cry. Enjoying the attention totally the little boy pulls out all the stops and gives his brother a real push. Caught off guard, the older boy stumbles and falls. Everyone in church holds their breath to see what will happen. His parents and I close our eyes and pray, envisioning a retaliating tackle and free-for-all imminent. With stoic poise the older boy picks himself up and joins in the song. The audience lets out a joint sigh of relief.

Fortunately the program is soon over and the parents can wipe the sweat from their brows and relax. Until the next time.

This one may be lucky to survive until he's five.