Story of Giantin at 5
It's funny how music can trigger memories from the past. Tonight we sang "Let there be peace on earth" at 6:30 pm mass. It never fails to bring me back 20 years ago when this funny and inspiring event transpired.
It was a relaxing drive one Saturday morning on our family weekend trek to Whistler. We were going through the picturesque Sea to Sky route in our MPV van excited about the prospects of our mountain vacation in Whistler Village.There was dad driving with grandpa Papa beside him discussing about the days plans in the mountains, the road conditions and the weather . There was mom on the second row with grandma Mama talking and chatting about the shopping areas and restaurants to go to in our charming vacation village. Everybody was talking and discussing, radio music was playing, noise was just a buzzing all over the car and outside the car. Giantin, our 5 year old was on the third and last row in his car seat calm and probably enduring all this buzz around him... on this 2 hour ardous journey. Giantin our normally talkative and active boy was strapped in the back like a prisoner silenced by our chatters. He was probably feeling left out and ignored in his car seat like he was in his 'favorite time out corner'. He finally starts his "Are we there yet?" replays. Argument with mom ensues and verbal battle begins. The exchange persists during this seemingly endless ride and the chatter turns to whining and noise. Then silence again. Suddenly out of the blues, as if an angel whispered to his ear, the normally mischievous boy of 5 starts singing the church hymn.." Let there be peace on earth ....." The chatter dies down and the other family members are struck silent, surprised and probably awed by the timeliness of his entry.".. the peace that was meant to be...with God as our father.....brothers all are we." "Let me walk with my brother..in perfect harmony.."As he goes through the verses proudly, all are perplexed yet attentive as if gold was flowing from the boy's mouth. Then his finale line..."Let there be peace on earth and ....let it begin with me." That was the clincher, I thought! Our impish boy delivering this line? No way! This child doesn't even know nor deeply understand what he's singing about. The hush was followed by an applause from all . Giantin smiles triumphantly knowing his impromptu spiel successfully silenced all of us...and apeaced the mom. Such instinctive wit and genius coming from this little boy? It was a coup of coups. Once again our naughty boy triumphs as he disarms us all in his witting and unwitting song!
Lesson learned: Angels do speak through the mouth of babes - no matter how impish the medium.
