Made in Richmond

We had our graduation ceremony for the kids today.  We have this little girl whose father is on his second tour in Iraq.  Apparently he had recently been talking to his wife about how he has missed so much in the lives of his girls.  Well, her teacher (my mentor) was having none of that.

As this little girl was about to walk up to the podium to receive her certificate, a cell phone rang.  Her teacher said into the microphone, “Hold on.  I need to get this.”  She picked up the phone and said, “Who would you like to talk to?  Oh yes, she’s right here.”  She then handed the phone over to the little girl whose face had crumbled into sobs (along with everyone else in the gym).  She knew exactly who it was: her dad calling from Baghdad.  Her teacher had arranged it for this girl’s mother to text message the father when her name was about to be called.  By the grace of God, that phone rang just as she stood in the center of that room, ready to walk up.  She held the phone so her dad could hear her name called and the room exploded into applause.  All of the teachers were crying (not just tearing-there was ugly crying going on, at least on my part) and all of the kids were so excited.

It was a perfect, perfect moment and one she and her family deserved.  I will never, ever forget it.  What an incredible way to finish out the year.