So during opening excercises at the orphanage school, we always sing church songs. The preschoolers often spend this time staring into space, perhaps sucking a thumb. One might cuddle up to a teacher and try to get held. Twirling seems to be a pastime of many of the girls. A lot of the songs are slower and have words that don't always make sense to them. And even though there are videos projected with lyrics, they don't read yet, so there's not much to see.
But there's one song that the preschoolers always request, and to which they give rapt attention. It's the group Rojo's "Te Amo Mas Que A Mi Misma Vida."
Principal: What song do you want to sing today?
Preschoolers: The Jesus song!!
They call it this, because the video has scenes from the Jesus movie spliced into it.
Principal: Wow! I think you all really like that song! You always request it.
It's true. They do. But I never could figure this out. It's one of the slow ones, a quiet song. Not the kind of song that usually holds appeal for kids who would name eating play-doh off the floor as one of their favorite activities.
Well, today, the truth came out. Rick had it figured out all along.
Rick: (leaning over and whispering to me) Hey, I know why the preschoolers like this song.
Me: What? I've been wondering that! Why?
Rick: Watch them during the scenes from the Jesus movie. They like the part where Peter cuts off the soldier's ear.
Me: What? (laughing) Really?
Rick: Yeah. Watch them today.
Me: Why?
Rick: Wait for it.
So I waited. And watched.
It started about halfway through the song. A visible ripple went through the line of preschoolers. Then one of the girls, a twirler, ratcheted up the twirling a few notches and put her hands up to her ears. A boy, Angel, broke off from the rest of the group and got a little closer to the projector.
Jesus was in the garden and people and soldiers were entering with torches.
Angel: It's coming!
The ripple grew into little wavelets, as the preschoolers started a light jump on the balls of their feet. Rosita can't walk, so she did it on her knees.
Jesus stood up from the rock where he was praying as he was surrounded.
Angel: It's in a MINUTE!
Peter jumped up, sword in hand.
Preschoolers: (in hushed whispers) It's coming! Don't miss it! It's in a minute...
*SLASH* Off goes the ear.
The song ended.
Principal: Wow! What good singing! And such a pretty song. I can tell you all really like to sing it.
Rick says that after the song every day, one or more of three things happen.
1) The preschoolers all hold their ears.
2) They share in hushed whispers how much it would hurt.
3) They start jumping around and cutting off each other's ears with imaginary swords.
Today it was the third.
And now there's a fourth: I try not to wet my pants.
(3/22/2012)
No comments:
Post a Comment