Family Night at the School

Value obedience and love. He did not look rebellious, standing there with his hands to his eyes and his head pressed against the glass. He was only seven and had dashed away from home in only knee shorts, a Tee shirt, runners with black socks and a black baseball cap perched up on his head as he peered in through the school door windows. He arrived at the school when there had been a family seeking information from the custodian regarding the family night activity. Austin had stayed behind when they left, between the two sets of doors, just waiting for the doors to open in fifteen minutes. He then had thirty minutes more before show time. "How lonesome he looks" I thought as I sent a text on my phone to his parents telling them I would bring him home. Thirty minutes ago, he had left the house not aware that his family had other plans tonight and had explained to the other children that they were not going to attend. Panic struck Mom and Dad when they found he was gone. It was dark and cold outside, maybe 44 F. He ran down the dark path past the two blocks of houses, some decorated with Christmas lights that lit his way. Then, he came to the to the dark, duck pond swollen with blackness, not even a moon out to reflect its light and the sun had faded from the sky a good hour ago. As I walked up to the door of the school, he turned around and looked up at me. I held out my hand and he came sweetly and obediently with me to my car. As his grandmother, I told him how worried we had been and how dangerous it could have been. He replied with his own impressions of what was happening. He expressed concern about getting there on time and told me that the last time his family had attended the school’s family night they were late and missed the movie. He told me about school and about the little girl who chases him at recess. He went on and on all about school as we rounded each corner. As we pulled up in front of his house, his dad was waiting on the porch for him. As he hopped out of the car, I told him I loved him and he said “I love you too, Grandma." He closed the car door and walked with a spring to his step all the way up to his father. I know that I gained a new love for that little boy that night because of how sweet he was to me when I stretched out my hand. In my mind, peace and understanding span all of the chasms of disobedience.