My Own Two Hands

I'm going to make it a brighter place
With my own two hands
I'm going to make it a safer place
With my own two hands
I'm going to help the human race
With my own two hands.
~ from My Own Two Hands by Jack Johnson & Friends

Tonight was the holiday concert at the Deaf School where I work. Our two youngest classes did this song in ASL and it almost had me in tears, given my thoughts this week about change starting with me. I had never heard it before and the words touched me deeply.

We had chosen as our theme this year a spinoff of Miracle on 42nd Street and it turned out to be oh so fitting. Yesterday our neighbour across the street from the school's home was broken into during the day and all the Christmas gifts were stolen. When our students heard about it, they made a miracle happen. They collected money from the audience tonight to give to the family who have two little children. They were going to go over after the concert and present them with the collection. I cannot wait until tomorrow to hear what happened.

I had a delightful exchange with one of the non-Deaf sisters of one of our students. She came up to me as I was cleaning up and said, "Excuse me, Miss."

I stooped down to her level and responded, "Yes, my dear. What can I do for you?"

I could see her brain whirling a thousand miles a minute and I want to help her out, so I smile warmly at her and touch her lightly on the arm, trying to assure her that whatever she wants to ask me is ok. She takes a deep breath and blurts out, "Will Santa really bring me what I asked for?"

Now it is time for my brain to buzz through a dozen responses rapidly before landing on this one: "What did you ask for?"

Her eyes wide with hope and innocence, she confesses in delight, "A doll!"

I figure that has to be ok, though I know the family's financial situation and am not totally positive they can swing even that. Somehow I find these words and hope that they will suffice: "Well, Santa might indeed bring you that doll--or he may decide to bring you the most awesome gift ever!"

Her eyes light up and she seems ok with the answer. We chat for a little longer before I resume my cleaning and somehow this concert has transformed me a little by bringing a little of the joy of the season. Yet at the same time, I recall watching the conversation that the little Deaf girl sitting on Santa's knee was having with him and my heart breaking a little. Santa was asking the kids all sorts of fun questions and unfortunately picked one that was not so safe: What did you buy for your mom and dad?

"I don't have a dad," the little girl signed back. "There is no dad in my family."

I glanced over at her mom who was watching this and saw her steel herself as the little girl looked over at her and signed once again that there was no dad. Santa took control of the situation. As the girl rejoined her mother, she signed that she have no dad a couple more times and I felt her innocence crumble a bit just as her mother took her in her arms and gave her a big hug and kiss on her head. A bit of my heart crumbled with that girl's innocence.

We all have two hands to make this world a safe place. Let's try to do that in the days ahead, especially for the wee ones in our lives.

Peace,

Suzanne