What kids Say Is Not What They Mean...
Earlier this week, it was a daddy night for me and the kiddos. Julie's business had her out for the evening and I needed some time with the kids so it was a perfect excuse to load them up the in minivan and head out to dinner some place.
Spaghetti Warehouse it was.
Now let me say, having dinner with six year old twins and a four year old boy is always an interesting experience, chopped full of me saying things like: "stop that", "sit down", "get that out of your mouth", "put that down", "get busy eating", "why did you lick that?", "stop starring", "say excuse me", "no more of...", "it's ok, it was an accident", "why did you do that?", "why didn't you tell me earlier?", etc. But the time usually involves some laughter too.
Kids know how to say the funniest things and this was one of those nights.
As the four of us are enjoying the remnants of our Italian feast at a table crammed into the famous Spaghetti Warehouse trolley car, I noticed (in my peripheral vision) a couple and their kids walking right past us and then being seated right next to us. For some reason my mind made a note that they were all wearing black of some kind.
It was then that one of my 6 year old girls said "Daddy, is it black night?".
And mind you, she asked this loud enough for most in the entire trolley car to hear.
I gave her "the look" and took a quick glance at the family.It was then I noted something else about this family.
They were African American. Yep, and they were wearing mostly all black.
All of this transpired in a matter of milliseconds mind you, but I was now horrified and truly embarrassed. I quickly recovered by saying loudly, "Yes honey, allot of people are WEARING black here tonight. People like all colors. See allot of others are wearing red." Then I proceeded to have a little conversation with my sweeties about not starring and not talking about people - much less those that are 48 inches away, and how it's just rude.
I doubt the family even noticed, but we swiftly paid our bill and made our way out leaving these people in the little trolley car to eat their meals in peace and without any further comments that could possibly be construed in some other fashion.
After we left I frankly broke down in complete laughter. Kids. What are the odds? And talk about timing. I mean, really.
The honest truth is that we are about as far from a racist family as one could ever know. It's just not an issue in our home, but boy how that comment could have made the news!
The sad truth is though God made each of us different and did so to glorify his creative abilities, our world still seems content on dividing us by color of skin, origin, geography, social status, and religion now more so than ever.
This funny little moment won't be remembered at all by my three kids years from now. But for me, it was a real reminder that we need to continue to teach others by example that God created each and every one of us and we should spend our lives loving and embracing one another, regardless of our creative differences.
After all, everyone is different in their own way.
Even when many are wearing black.
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28
© 2012, J. Brady Speers
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
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