Upon my daughter’s request, I turned on Disney’s Tarzan the other day so I could mop the kitchen without interruption from my two youngest, very helpful children. While waiting for a section of the floor to dry in order to move the table where I needed it, I couldn’t resist my foster son’s pleading to hold him. At 22 months, he’s still working with a limited vocabulary, so said pleading consists mostly of reaching up and puppy eyes. Settled on the couch, I put my arms out. He handed me his favorite snuggly bear and climbed up in my lap. “Little Man,” as we refer to him on social media, has a way of settling in and resting his head against my chest that lets you know he’s not going anywhere. Generally, he’s a really busy toddler, so when he takes the time to settle in, you know it’s going to be a rare but meaningful snuggle.
If you have seen the movie, you’ll remember the touching scene where Kala, a mother gorilla grieving the death of her young child, suddenly hears a baby’s cry echo through the jungle. She looks up and it’s as if her grief falls away from her face as she realizes a child is in need of her care on the other side of that sound. I got choked up as I watched Kala run as fast as she could toward the baby’s cries, other animals scattering away in her wake. Kala finds herself at the base of a bridge leading up to the jungle home Tarzan’s parents had built after being shipwrecked and stranded. She seemed to me to feel overwhelmed and unsure of what she is getting herself into, but when the baby cries again, there is no more hesitation. She races to the aid of the child in need. The image of Kala running toward the cries has been replaying in my mind all week. After discovering the baby she would call Tarzan, Kala takes him back to her home and as I sat snuggling my Little Man, the lyrics of “You’ll Be In My Heart” by Phil Collins brought me to full-on tears. Big ones, rolling down my cheeks toward my chin while hugging Little Man extra tight.
Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
And hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don’t you cry
For one so small,
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can’t be broken
I will be here
Don’t you cry
‘Cause you’ll be in my heart
Yes, you’ll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You’ll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You’ll be here
In my heart
Always
Why can’t they understand the way we feel
They just don’t trust what they can’t explain
I know we’re different, but deep inside us
We’re not that different at all
And you’ll be in my heart
Yes you’ll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Don’t listen to them
‘Cause what do they know
We need each other, to have, to hold
They’ll see in time, I know
When destiny calls you, you must be strong
I may not be with you
But you got to hold on
They’ll see in time, I know
We’ll show them together
‘Cause you’ll be in my heart
Yes you’ll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Yes you’ll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You’ll be in my heart
Always and always
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
I’ll be there
Always
Songwriters: PHIL COLLINS, MARK MANCINA
© DISNEY/WONDERLAND WORLDWIDE
