christmas program

Caleb sang a solo in sacrament meeting for the Christmas program--Two verses of 'Angels we have heard on high' all by himself at the mic. He sounded fantastic (think classical boys choir soloist) and was very pleased with his performance. And it never occurred to him to be afraid. I think he was a little nervous, but he didn't sound nervous. He enjoyed it. Turns out he has a very clear voice and unbelievably good pitch.

Before church, Tim and I had both expressed our own nervousness about Caleb singing a solo (it was supposed to be a duet, but Anda backed out)--what if he messed up? What if he forgot the words, or picked his nose, or just decided at the last minute that he didn't want to do it? What then?

Caleb did great.

It was an interesting opportunity for him. Tim is the choir director and put together the program, and he initially asked at least one other family with 4 kids to have their kids sing, and our kids, and nobody else was interested. So we just let Caleb and Anda...and then Caleb alone...do it. The reason this was an interesting opportunity for Caleb is he is the kind of kid you just don't ask to do something like sing a solo in sacrament meeting--unless he happens to be your kid and you know he has this hidden talent and you pray his disabilities don't get in the way. Nobody asks the kid who wanders out of primary, lays on the floor, or spends the whole time tuned out reading the Friend magazine to do special things. They ask the kids who they know will do the rehearsals, show up, and do a passable job. I totally understand this.

I just wonder how many other kids don't get the chance to have a positive experience because they are different. And what we could do about it...even Tim and I were afraid we'd taken too big of a risk, and Tim had prepared the sopranos in the choir to fill in just in case. How can we include and 'show off' the kids who need it most when they are the hardest to count on?

Big risks have big payoffs, though--and for Caleb? It was so nice to see him appreciated for once in the ward, instead of merely tolerated as just another 'disabled' kid. I know he's brilliant and kind and thoughtful and talented. But when you don't fit the mold, it's hard for anyone else to see anything but that.