"Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s about being
scared and doing it anyway. For you cannot have courage without
fear." -unknown
 |
| Courage and Friendship on Great Display At The Cole Elementary Talent Show |
My eldest son, whom I write about here on
Lyrics and Love often, was gearing up to perform at his school talent show on
May 18th. He was practicing for weeks to perform his
very first Carter Garrett original. I say he was practicing for weeks, but he
has had this planned for months. The night comes and he takes the stage as
student number 14. I think my own heart is going to pound out of my chest, and
I am pretty sure butterflies where living in my stomach. I knew how hard he had
worked, and I really was proud of him before he even stepped a foot on stage. I
also knew how hard he is on himself. Halfway through the first verse I hear his sweet
little voice crack, and he just can’t hold back the nerves. Time seemed to go
into slow motion. I saw him close his little eyes in an attempt to compose himself,
but the lights, the audience, the perfectionist within was just too much. The
tears flooded his face. My heart was crushed for him. I wanted so much to
rescue my sweet boy. It’s hard to witness your child experiencing life’s tough
moments. His Dad finally walks to the stage and helps him exit, and we have a
little family meeting away from the crowd. It was heartbreaking watching him
still wringing his little 9 year old hands and crying into our shoulders.
Stephen and I did our best to encourage him, but honestly we were failing. I
was throwing up silent prayers of comfort and peace over his little heart, but
neither of us really knew what to do. Then something tender and sweet began to
happen. His principle, peers and teachers start rallying around him speaking
words of encouragements over him and patting him on the back whispering, "you
can do it Carter, give it another try”. His Cole family was backing him up.
They were giving my son something so much more beautiful than the spot light.
They were giving him love. They were giving him a second chance. They were
giving him just the little push of courage he needed. So, the second time
around Carter walked to the stage picked up his guitar stepped up to the
microphone followed on stage by four of his classmates(who knew every word to
his song), and they dedicated Carter's original song “I Wonder” to his
4th grade teacher. Without a hitch, the song
was complete. The crowd cheered and clapped. The happy ending was ours
tonight. Friendship and courage had taken center stage at Cole Elementary’s
talent show! And the Mommy tears flowed freely and sweetly and my heart was
happy!
