Ever since I can remember, I recall my mom lovingly calling my dad “Rey.” (King) When my mom talked about my dad with my brother and me, she referred to him as “your dad,” or “your daddy.” But with everyone else, he was “my “Rey.” (King) .” Many times, people who didn’t know my dad thought his name was Reynaldo, and they were very surprised to find out that his name is Juan Pablo. These confused people would ask my mom:
-Why do you call him “Rey” if his name is Juan Pablo?
To which my mom would reply:
-Because he’s my “Rey.”
I heard the story that my brother, still very little, changed the lyrics of a Christmas carol called “The Little Drummer Boy.” In this carol, there is a line that says: “…the shepherds want to see their king…” And my brother sang: “…the shepherds want to see my dad…” They told me that this scene stole laughter and smiles. And all because my brother always heard my mom call my dad “Rey.”
On some occasions, when my mom was a little (or somewhat) upset for some reason, she would say to me:
-Oh Marisol de Guadalupita…
And to my dad:
-Oh Reisito…
Later I thought it was so cute, realizing that because she felt upset, my dad did not stop being her Rey.
I could not always perceive it with the clarity that I can now. But the love they had for each other was truly an example.
Yes, for my mom, my dad was the love of her life, so much so that she never stopped calling him “my Rey.”
For me, while I was growing up, the words king, queen, prince and princess were more like part of a story, and part of the history of some countries that I felt were really far away. But the closeness of my mom’s nickname to my dad, that was very close. And not so much because of the word, but because of the affection with which my mom always referred to my dad.
And my dearest dad, did not call my mom Queen. He called her “Chaparrita” (“Shorty.”) My mom was short. Every time my dad called her “Chaparrita” in front of other people, my mom smiled radiantly. For her, it was not the nickname, it was the love with which my dad talk to her.
It was not until I left my parents’ house to begin my life as an adult woman, that little by little I began to notice the love my dad had for my mom. Living with them, I was their daughter, he was my dad, and she was my mom. But when I left home, I could see them as spouses.
It was then that I began to understand. My mom called my dad “Rey” (King) ” because he treated her like a Queen. Not because of luxuries, but because of the attention he gave her. From what I saw, he always gave her her place, was attentive, loving, and romantic with her. They sought to be together after my dad came home from work. They raised two children the best they could, and gave us more love than I can possibly understand.
Because of his job, my dad had periods when he traveled. During those periods, my mom and I spent more time together, and much of their conversation was always about my dad.
When he was about to return home, she would dress up more to receive him, and she was also very attentive to him. When my dad arrived, my mom would say with great joy:
-My King has arrived!
Can you imagine having a close relationship with a king?
What would be your way of reacting to knowing that a friend of yours is coming, who happens to be part of royalty?
Scripture tells us that Jesus has a kingdom.
The “kingdom” that my parents created for my brother and me was founded on the love they had for each other.
How might you perceive the kingdom of love that Jesus has created for you?
My mom was so happy to see my dad return from his trips.
Can you, here and now, rejoice in every encounter with Jesus?
If the Spirit leads you, build with Jesus the carpenter that part of his kingdom in which you can meet together. And perhaps you can say: “My King has arrived.”
Marisol
P.S. We can hear about Jesus as King in the readings of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
