All About You FRIDAY – Not Today

Close up of young woman show stop gesture sign by hand saying no to domestic violence or abuse, determined millennial female protest against abortion or discrimination, nonverbal language concept

Every summer, I get the opportunity to teach gym class at our church preschool. First the three year olds, then the four year olds and then a group of grade school kids who are there for the summer. I don a whistle and my best coach voice as I lead them through obstacle courses, agility drills, cup stacking and duck-duck-goose.

Sound exhausting? It is. I don’t feel old when I’m running around with them, but afterwards, I require a shower a snack and a short nap. Just like a preschooler.

This week, a teacher brought one of the students to me before class.

“This is Miss Sherry,” she said. He looked me square in the eye as he shook my hand. “She is going to be doing the class so you need to listen to her. When she blows the whistle, it means to listen” the teacher continued.

He was respectful but seemed a bit annoyed. “I know,” he said under his breath. “Why did you have to bring me out here?”

“I just wanted you to hear it when the other kids weren’t around,” she replied.

“I’ll see you in a few minutes!” I said enthusiastically, wondering what that was all about.

Ten minutes later, he came back with the rest of his class and the reason for his earlier visit became apparent. If he was running a relay, he was fine. But he filled every other moment with screaming, pushing or challenging the other boys. Gone was the calm child I had seen just minutes before. My lungs got a workout blowing that whistle.

I often wonder what is behind that kind of behavior. What drives the anger or impulsiveness. He isn’t a bad kid. He’s just trying to tell us something.

Since it was our last class of the summer, I brought a bunch of stickers for the kids. I allowed them to pick several and he plastered a bunch on his shirt and proudly came up to show me what he had chosen:

“Those are perfect choices,” I replied. “Especially that one,” I said as I pointed to the green one on his shirt. He must have chosen it for the color or impulsively grabbed it because he asked, “What does it say?”

“Not today, Satan!” I said enthusiastically. “You just keep saying that. When you start to get mad or want to do something wrong, just say it out loud. Let the devil know you don’t have time for that.” He looked at me with his bright eyes and curly-topped head and smiled proudly. He made at least one good choice that day.

Yesterday, I worked an 11-hour day and then made my way to the album release party of my friend, Gail Baker. For those of you who are coming in new to the story, I met Gail at my clinic a few years back. I witnessed her suffering and in pain from various injuries. And just when you thought life had kicked her down, it kicked her even harder when she lost her husband suddenly three years ago.

I’ve watched her slowly piece her life back together. She and her husband had built a state of the art recording studio in their basement, complete with floor to ceiling sound proofing. They had started recording some tunes for a new album before he died. His drum kit sits in the corner.

I know what that is like to have your life flipped upside down. My heart ached for her. But through the years, I watched a miracle happen before my eyes. Friends from her past emerged and helped her finish her “final album”. Top notch Detroit musicians and a Motown producer put their time and talent into getting it across the finish line. My movie-making friends helped shoot her music video, Learning How to Fly, and Megawaves Studios began promoting the album.

She walked into a local restaurant a month ago and asked if she could have her launch party there. The said yes, thinking they would need 1-2 staff members to handle the event. Their eyes grew wide as they saw the online registration numbers climb each day. They had to put all hands on deck. She sold out the house.

When she took the stage last night with her band, she was glowing. And from the first note, her voice rang out loud and clear. I initially looked at her right knee hoping everything would be okay, but in no time at all my attention was drawn to the music.

As we clapped and cheered (and I even got to play a tambourine that they handed out), my heart was so full of pride for what Gail had accomplished. I replayed her journey in my head and all it took to get her up on that stage. I may or may not have had to choke back a few tears.

Not today, Satan! That’s what I was thinking as I looked at the crowd of smiling faces moving and grooving to the tunes of Learning How to Fly. You don’t get to rain on this parade. The universe won that battle last night. Gail’s universe of friends, family and loved ones. It was a sight to behold.

Have I mentioned Gail is 79?

That was the highlight of my week and the best story I could tell.

Bad things happen to good people, but good wins too. Maybe that should be our new battle cry. Not today, Satan! We have stuff to do. (I need a few more stickers to hand out).

It’s been a long week. Don’t forget to celebrate. There is reason for it, after all.

Until next time…