The Present of Presence
What could a big, tough football player and a cute little girl have in common? As you read on, you may find out.
I don’t know if the name “Donna Kelce” means anything to you or not. It didn’t to me until I recently saw a video in which she was featured.
From what I’ve understood since seeing the video, Donna Kelce made history in this year’s Super Bowl. According to what I’ve found out, she is the first woman to have two sons playing in the same Super Bowl. On top of that, the two sons played for different teams. One played for the winning Kansas City Chiefs and the other played for the losing Philadelphia Eagles.
Apparently, she made a name for herself during the week leading up to the game. During some of the week and during the game, she wore a jacket that had the colors and logo of the Chiefs on one half and the colors and logo of the Eagles on the other half.
She is not the primary reason that I’m writing these words, though. It was actually what I saw one of her sons say and do. The video that I saw did, indeed, show the mother on the field after the game as she hugged the son on the winning team. The camera then focused on the other son. He was looking around and, as the microphone picked up his voice, he said, “I don’t know if my family has made it down here yet.” Donna was on the field at the time, but he hadn’t seen her. When he did see her, she got a huge hug from a huge guy. I’m sure that he was wishing that the Eagles had won the game, but, at that moment, it looked like all that mattered was that he was getting to hug his mother.
So, who is the little girl? I have no idea. I just know that a video of her “pops up” once in a while. It appears that it is a video of one of those grade school programs that go on all over the place and seemingly with a lot of regularity.
This particular program is not much different from hundreds or probably thousands that take place. A group of children are on risers and are getting ready to sing. The emotions displayed on one little girl’s face is evidence of a variety of emotions. She seems to first wonder where her family is sitting. Her face then goes to what could be described as real desperation when she can’t find them. Finally, with tears in her eyes, she claps, waves, and even kind of hops up and down with joy when she finds them.
A big, bearded professional football player and a cute little girl are, at least to me, indications that our presence may be the most meaningful present we can give at times. “Just being there” for people as they experience the highs and lows of life may be the best thing we can do for them. We don’t necessarily have to say anything or do anything that would be considered to be outstanding. Merely letting others know that they are important enough to us for us to take time for them can be invaluable.
Two people who could not be much more different reminded me of something that I think all of us have trouble with at times. The things that we may think are so important (careers, possessions, popularity, etc.) pale in comparison with something that costs very little (or sometimes nothing except maybe a little time) –
the present of presence.
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
