Day 49: Something to Dance About

Last night Asia wanted me to watch her dance. She borrowed a CD from the library of kids singing showtunes and folk songs. We cleared away the toys in the playroom to make lots of room for the choreography to unfold. Asia took centerstage while I sat against the wall, watching her intently. As the songs played, I marvelled at what she came up with--new moves and twirls and arm positions that I had never seen from her before. Asia is a very expressive girl and it shows from the top of her head down to her toes.

During a very lively performance to "New York, New York," I realized Asia had her Philippines shirt on. This is a pale yellow shirt with "Philippines" emblazoned on the side. It's one of her favorite shirts. The significance of this moment hit me: here was Asia, dancing, doing something that she loves, which is very much her, and while she's doing it, she's wearing her Philippines shirt, another thing she loves. You see, not only is Asia changed forever because now she has a brother, but she's changed forever by the country he comes from. Had we not brought Rex from there, the Philippines would be just another country on the map. But because of him, it's in her heart.

Colette and I feel so blessed that Asia has more than her own country in her heart. And not just because she can find information about the world on the Internet or by watching the news or a foreign movie. I mean, you can learn information but it doesn't change your heart. You can discover facts but they don't move you. But our sweet dancing Asia has moved beyond words and beyond images to embrace a brother from a different country, and because he's in her heart, so is his country. I know she'll make a mark on the Philippines, just like it's made a mark on her. That's something to dance about.