Monday, June 20, 2011

For Luke on his 11th Birthday

Luke is my gregarious one.  He has never met a stranger.  And the kid can talk a blue streak.  Sometimes when you are around him a lot, you really start to believe silence is golden.  But that is only a fleeting thought in my mind, because Luke has the personality he is meant to have.  Having that personality allows him to be fearless when he gets on a stage and sings to a full house.  I would never have done that at his age.  Probably ever.  He does it without a second thought.  And if he makes a mistake, he doesn't beat himself up about it, he gets up and does it the next time still having no fear.  He believes he can grow up to be a performer, and I think that anyone with his degree of belief will not let anything get in his way.  Nothing he accomplishes would surprise me.

The thing I find interesting about Luke is that he has this loud and spirited personality, but when he has to get down to work, he gets the job done.  I remember in 2nd grade when he learned the lesson, "All I do is get to school and tell a few jokes and then get down to business."  And he has ever since.  His teacher this year was surprised when I mentioned his propensity to talk.  She just saw his conscientious desire to finish his work and get good grades.

The thing about Luke that makes me proudest, is that he is kind.  He feels compassion for those he sees being treated badly.  I think that he is turning into a man who will do the right thing even in the face of others doing wrong.  He knows the difference between right and wrong.  And he acts on it.  He will not be done wrong, and he won't let any treat someone else wrong.

As a child it is often disrespectful to talk to adults a certain way, but there are times I have watched him and he has been right.  And who am I to squelch his expression of what should be.

Happy Birthday Luke.

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