I was witness
to something extraordinary a few days ago, on the evening of Halloween. Your
brother, Johnny, saw that our four-year-old neighbor up the street had an Ezra
Bridger costume from the Star Wars Rebels cartoon on television. His costume
wasn’t complete in Johnny’s eyes because our little friend had the wrong Jedi
lightsaber. The green one he was carrying around as a prop wasn’t true to the
character. Naturally, your brother sought to rectify the situation, given that
he is our resident Star Wars expert. He proceeded to go into our house and
retrieve his beloved Ezra lightsaber from his collection. He then gave it to
the little boy. Clara, did you catch that?
Johnny gave his Ezra lightsaber to his little buddy—not to borrow for the evening, but for keeps. When Johnny told me, well, let me admit my shock. It wasn’t like it was an old toy or something he had stopped doing battle with around the house. He loved his Ezra lightsaber.
Johnny gave his Ezra lightsaber to his little buddy—not to borrow for the evening, but for keeps. When Johnny told me, well, let me admit my shock. It wasn’t like it was an old toy or something he had stopped doing battle with around the house. He loved his Ezra lightsaber.
Johnny’s absolute
desire to share his treasure with our friend warms my heart. It was given
freely, without reservation and without regret (and without parental
suggestion). And I think it’s because, several weeks earlier, he saw what real
giving was through the prism of his beloved Star Wars possessions.
Johnny’s in
junior high school now and, over the past year, has wanted to start shedding
his kid-ness. He started by removing some of the Star Wars décor from his
bedroom and I supported that decision with a heavy heart. I suggested that
maybe our friend down the street would appreciate having anything he no longer
wanted. Johnny said that was a good idea, and one day a few weeks ago, we
walked up and knocked on our neighbors’ door. The gratitude and jubilation of
that little boy has forever made an impression on Johnny’s heart. The little
boy danced around his house, trying out his new stuff, and Johnny engaged him
in an epic lightsaber battle, boy to boy, and maybe even Jedi Master to Padawan.
When we finally
left, Johnny’s smile radiated nearly as strongly as our little friend’s. Giving
finally clicked for him. Johnny started with giving away his old stuff to
quickly giving up something he loved—and all because he wanted his little
friend to have great joy the same way he did.
