Where is John?

This morning, as we were leaving for church, I reminded Aidan to get his Bible. As he brought it out, this was our conversation:

A: "I've been reading this Bible."
K: "Oh? What did you read?"
A: "John 13."
K: "What did John 13 say?"
Aidan opened his Bible, about to the middle, trying to find the book of John.
A: "Mom, does John come before or after Plasma?"
K: "Huh?"
When I looked, he was in the book of Psalms!

Sing to Jesus

April 1, 2007

Everytime Aidan sings in front of the congregation with the Kidz First! Choir at our church, he cries. He’s fine before and after the performance, but it seems when he gets up there and looks out at all the people, he is overcome by stagefright. He still sings, but as he’s singing, he’s constantly wiping his eyes. Other people might think he just has something in his eye, because he’s not sobbing. But mommy knows those are real tears. It breaks my heart, but I know this is a hurdle we need to get over, to build his self-confidence.

This particular time, the Kidz First! Choir was singing a small part of the Easter Cantata (according to Morgan, about 3 minutes out of the hour!). They performed during the 9:00 service today, and then again for the community at 4:30. I was absolutely astounded at how Aidan paid attention during the first two-thirds of the performance, before the Kidz sang. While other children were squirming and fiddling with anything they could find, Aidan was actually watching the actors and the choir. But when it was the Kidz’ turn to sing, he began to puddle up. He made it through the performance, but it was hard. Afterwards, when he found out he would need to perform again, he adamantly refused, to the point of tears again. But we had already made a commitment to Miss Eileen, so I explained to Aidan in the car that God gave him a wonderful singing voice, and that He wanted Aidan to use that voice to teach others about God and Jesus. Then I asked if it would help if I invited his grandparents to come and watch the afternoon performance. He finally agreed to go back. Fast forward to 4:00. When I dropped him off for the second performance, I reminded him that he was singing for Jesus, and if he began to cry, to think of this. I also reassured him that I would be in the same seat I was this morning, right in front behind the pews the kids would be sitting in. He seemed to accept this, and I went to grab my seat. The performance was just as beautiful the second time, and Aidan still paid the best attention of all the kids there. I love how interested he is in music! Then, it was time for the Kidz to perform. No tears! He even smiled, ever so slightly, back at me! And when the Kidz were finished, how proud we both were of him! I know I’m going to look back on this memory with a smile in about 10 years when he has the male lead in the SHS spring musical!