Silverlinings (for other editions, see Silverlinings )
Happy Birthday, Fairy Godmother
(May 3, 2007)
“Happy Birthday, Fairy Godmother,” they yelled excitedly as I pulled out of the driveway. I waved and went on my way to the seminary as they raced the car to the guard house. They were at my gate later in the evening when I returned—this time with originally designed birthday greetings created with school paper, plastic flowers, stickers, and green leaves pulled from the bushes nearby. They were stuffing the brightly colored papers into my mailbox along with a tiny black and white kitten, which was meowing in great distress. After rescuing the kitten, I explained that I couldn’t keep my gift because I was returning to the US this month. Sophia cried, “Are you leaving us forever?” I assured her I would return.
The children don’t really know my name—I am just the fairy godmother who lives in the small house in their housing area. Their parents also call me Fairy Godmother when I walk by their home or when I see them at the market.
When I first met the children, they were shy to use either English or Tagalog, but they would follow me around the block as I walked in the neighborhood. I teased them about their Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty costumes and called them by the fairy tale names shown on their clothing. They gave me my name—Fairy Godmother. Somehow I became their friend—I carried dolls and books, dodged bicycles and skateboards, listened to giggling and laughing, and tripped over jump ropes and balls.
This week they attended my birthday party. They liked all my decorations sent from my LINKS church—matching tablecloth, napkins, plates, cups, plastic ware, candles, and centerpiece. We celebrated with sweet spaghetti, garlic bread, and a salad of fresh mangos and juicy watermelon. Following the meal, we made banana splits with whipped cream spraying all over the kitchen and chocolate syrup dripping off the cabinet onto the floor.
If fairy godmothers are those who use their power to act as a mentor or a parent to someone, then I want to continue being a fairy godmother. I want to teach the neighborhood children about Jesus as I learn about their culture. I want to continue teaching them my Bible verses as they help me learn the correct pronunciation. I want to hear them sing the Sunday school songs in Tagalog to the tunes I know in English.
It is nice being known as a fairy godmother to the neighborhood children, and I hope they never find out that in Shrek 2, the fairy godmother turns out to be a conniving person similar to that of the Stepmother in Cinderella! Pray for me to be the example Christ would have me be!
We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done (NASB Psalm 78:4).
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Dr. Geneva Silvernail
Asia-Pacific Regional Literature Coordinator
Regional Education Consultant
Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary
Ortigas Ave. Ext. Kaytikling, Taytay
1920 Rizal Philippines
Email: gsilvernail@apnaz.org
ministry@genevasilvernail.org |
