One day I was walking back from the Cafeteria with some of my friends from school. As we walked down the hill, I realized something that stroke my mind, and my heart indeed. We were on our way to the dorms, but there was something special this time. I was thinking in Costa Rica the place were I was born. My culture, my nation, my traditions, and who I am collapsed one with the other.
My mind went blank, and in matter of seconds all my life passed before my eyes giving me a confirmation of who I am. One of the flashbacks I had was when I was sitting with my dad one day in a park. It was my birthday, and he bought me a pair of yellow boots. Then he took me out for an ice cream. I was little, but somehow I knew how hard my dad worked for bringing food, and happiness to my mom and brothers. The ice cream meant a lot to me, but surprisingly after finishing the ice cream he took me to the store. We walked around the store until we found the toys/games section. He told me, "Pick any car you want" My little heart started bouncing so hard that I thought I was going to explode. My eyes search for the coolest car. Oh my... I saw it. It was a blue monster truck with remote control. I wanted that one so badly. I knew that by picking that car I would be the coolest kid in my school. I knew my dad would it buy that for me, even if that would it mean to work overnight three times a week. I walk towards the car while thinking in my dad. My heart was still beating fast, and hard. I passed by the blue monster truck, and pick a yellow small car that had the cable attached to the car and the remote, the one that you have to walked behind it all the time. My dad looked at me and said, "Are you sure this is the car you want?" I was afraid he knew. I force my smile my excitement and the glare in my eyes and said, "Yes daddy this is the one I like" He knew it, but he smile and said "Thank you Macho"...
That is who I am. Since that day the little yellow car was so important for me. I probably at some point broke my dream of having an awesome car in order to get my fathers love (that was already there)
Several times I pretended to be sick to stay with my mom since I knew she would feel lonely without my dad that was working, my brothers that were in school and without his baby that was in kinder garden already.
Another time during my process as a teenager, I decided with my brothers to give our parents time and love to kids that needed one. Me and my brothers again broke our hearts and time to give others one of the most precious things we had: our parents love and time. And the story goes on and on... And also the results too. I let my little friend use my car, because he was sad one day, and he accidentally broke it. I worked extra in home for pretending to be sick (this is funny), I lost my parents attention, and love for 4 years when others got it.
You know what, This is who I am, and I love being who I am. I brake my heart for others, just as one man did it for the entire humanity once. I walk slow because in Costa Rica we walk slow. I drink coffee slowly because in Costa Rica that is how we do it. I am friendly and lovely to everyone because this is how we are in Costa Rica, but more important than that, because God made me this way. Yes God made me this way, but I chose to change for the people I love. I will change for you, for anyone. I love my new friends here in California, my Church, my school.
I am Macho, and when I am weak, my God is strong. There is nothing that can stand against me, because my God is bigger than anything. My heartbeats are still strong. They are faster, stronger and louder when someone I care is around me. This is who God made me. I am part of him and he is part of me. In Costa Rica or America, in Russia or China God is God, and his purpose in my life will be fulfilled if I walk slow or not, if you are here or not.
God is good all the time...
David Macho
Concordia University, 4/14/2011
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