Unlikely Friends

I have two friends here in Frisco that are unlikely, as one is 30+ years my senior, though he’ll deny it, and the other was born when I was 31! I enjoy both these friendships. With one, I find original insight, biting wit, and a lifetime of perspective. With the other, Daniel, I get to re-visit the world from the eyes of a 5th grader, where a day off from school is highly anticipated and treasured. I was Daniel’s Primary teacher in 2006, when my physical challenges began. Though he wouldn’t admit it, I think he is concerned about me. Every Sunday before our meetings, he seeks me out to shake my hand and ask how I am doing. And it isn’t just a greeting. I try to reassure him that I am OK, which is getting harder to do with the vocal weakness. Anyway, showing maturity well beyond his eleven years, he asks about my week. Today he asked how “parenting” was going. We talked about the evils of procrastination. He seems to be soaking up every word. So, why does he seek me out? His mother says that he looks up to me. That is nice, but I haven’t been his teacher since August 2006. Why would an 11-year old kid care about some middle-aged dude in his ward? To him I should just be “that cute girl’s dad.” Maybe that is it! However, it seems unlikely as my Erika is a grade ahead of him, attends a different school, and just is in different circles in so many ways. I don’t know exactly why, but I know that several times while teaching, he was touched by the Spirit. I know, they were “just” Valiant 10 Primary lessons, but I can remember twice that during the lesson the Spirit bore powerful witness. On each of these occasions, as the class filed out he lagged behind, and then without saying a word, gave me a hug. We communicated spirit-to-spirit, where there are no age differences. I think that is true of my older friend too.