Lemonade

  I saw a young boy today, he looked to be about 8 or 9 years old, most of his exposed skin was covered by scar tissue obviously caused by serious burns. I initially thought “How terrible” that this child is so disfigured and that he will have to live with this disability. He was talking a blue streak to the men he was with and soon had everyone around him chuckling about the content of his running dialog. His father, with a sly smile, joked that he had forgotten “to give him his pill” before taking him out in public. The young boy was up, down, talking, joking, and cajoling while engaging those around him eye to eye without a trace of fear or shyness. I soon came to realize that I had made a hasty judgment, in just a few minutes I was totally engaged with the bright and vibrant person he obviously was to the extent I didn’t notice the scars anymore, only a smart, healthy child fully immersed in the joy of life.
  People are only as handicapped as we are willing to make them or allow them to be. It’s wonderful that the people around this boy won’t let him be handicapped, that they are giving him the full joy of living. Life dealt him some lemons, but he not only made lemonade, he opened up an entire fruit stand for the rest of us to enjoy! I wish he had not suffered his obvious injuries, but I am still enjoying the smile he put on my face today. 7/21/06