Stories

Nothing can ruin the special day of First Communion…or can it?

Mess-up Mike

By Diana R. Jenkins

Everybody calls me “Mess-up Mike.” They’re just joking, but it hurts my feelings anyway. Even though it’s true that I do mess up a lot!

Like one time in Art, I spilled my paint water. All the paintings at my table got ruined. All the kids at my table got mad!

Another time, I accidentally let the hamster out of his cage. He ran from the room, and it took a long time to find him. Everybody was really upset with me!

And I can tell that people don’t really want me on their team. I always drop the ball. Or strike out. Or kick the air instead of the ball. Once I made a basket, but it was in the wrong hoop!

So when my class started getting ready for First Communion, I got worried. What if I messed up our important day and ruined it for everybody?

One morning, I sat across from Emilio and Stephen on the bus. “Hey, Mess-up Mike,”

Emilio teased. “You’re not going to wreck First Communion, are you?”

“No,” I said. “Of course not!”

“He’ll probably drop the host,” Stephen joked.

“I will not!” I said, but I couldn’t hold onto something big like a football. How was I going to hold onto Jesus in a teeny little host?

Our teacher, Mrs. Lane, gave us a big talk about First Communion. “It’s such a big day in your life,” she said. “For the first time, you receive the Body and Blood of Christ. That’s so important!” I got nervous just listening to her!

In Music, we practiced our First Communion songs. I was so worried about messing up that I couldn’t remember any of the words. And my throat got so tight, I sounded like a parrot!

“Do you have a cold, Michael?” asked Mr. Francis.

“No, sir,” I croaked.

“Maybe you should rest your voice for the rest of class,” he said.

Or forever! I thought. Then I can’t ruin First Communion!

When I got home, I stopped in the hallway and looked at my big sister’s First Communion picture. Beth was standing outside our church, looking perfect in her perfect white dress. She didn’t do one thing wrong, I was sure. No wonder she looked so happy!

“It’s not long before your big day,” she said from right behind me. “Are you nervous?”

“I have to do my homework,” I said, hurrying off to my room. I didn’t want to talk about ruining the most important day in my life! I didn’t want to think about it either, but I couldn’t stop myself. All evening I thought about messing up. Then I dreamed about it all night!

My dreams came true when we rehearsed the next day. I tripped as we practiced walking into the church. I couldn’t remember the words to anything. I stood when I was supposed to sit. I sat when I was supposed to kneel. I dropped the practice piece of bread, but luckily Mrs. Lane caught it. When Mr. Francis handed me the practice cup, I almost dropped it, too!

When I got back to my pew, everybody was staring at me. I just knew they were thinking that Mess-up Mike was going to mess up everything!

The night before First Communion, I could hardly swallow my supper.

“Are you feeling okay?” Mom asked.

“He’s just excited about the big day,” said Dad. “Right?”

I didn’t want to disappoint my parents so I said, “Right! I’m excited.”

“Really?” asked Beth.

“Of course!” I said, digging into my carrots like a starving man.

Later that night, Beth came to my room. “Okay, what’s wrong?”.

I didn’t think Miss Perfect would understand, but I couldn’t keep my worries inside any longer. “I’m going to ruin First Communion! I just know it! I’ll mess up like I always do!”

“Come on,” said Beth. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

“A lot could happen!” I told her about all my mistakes during rehearsals. “I couldn’t do anything right then,” I said. “How am I going to do everything perfectly tomorrow?”

“You’re not!” she said. “Nobody’s perfect. The great thing is that God loves us anyway. Didn’t he send us his only Son? That’s real love, right?”

“Yes, but—“

”And Jesus loves us so much that he comes to us again and again in the Eucharist.”

“I know! But something terrible is going to happen!”

“Maybe, maybe not. But something wonderful is definitely going to happen. Jesus is coming into your life in a new way, Mike. For sure! Even if you do make a huge mistake.” She walked to the door, then turned back. “Don’t worry so much that you miss out on the happiness.” Then she left.

Beth was trying to help with my problem, but she just didn’t get it! I tossed and turned with worry all night. I woke up tired, and I felt terrible all morning. Finally it was time to get ready for church.

When I was dressed, I went and looked at Beth’s picture again. I wished I could be happy like that, too. If only I wasn’t such a doofus!

As I started to turn away, I noticed something about Beth’s First Communion dress. The ruffle at the bottom looked kind of funny. I got closer and saw it wasn’t a ruffle after all. Her dress had a big tear in it!

I couldn’t believe it! My perfect sister had messed up big time!

Then why did she look so happy? I wondered.

That’s when I remembered what Beth said about First Communion being something wonderful. Something that couldn’t be ruined even if I made a mistake. It looked like she knew what she was talking about!

“Mike! Let’s go!” called Mom.

“Coming!” I yelled back.

On the way to the church, I realized that I felt a lot better. Maybe I wouldn’t be perfect today, but was some little mistake really that important? After all, I was starting a new and special relationship with Jesus. And he loved me so much! There was no way I could mess that up.

So I stopped worrying, and my First Communion went great! Sure, there was that one time I stood up when I should have been seated. It wasn’t a big deal though. I just sat down when I realized my mistake. And I didn’t let it bother me anymore. When I received Communion, I was only thinking about Jesus and his love for me.

Hey, you should see how happy I look in my First Communion picture!

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