It’s easy to be cheerful when life is going your way.  I’ve been trying really hard to keep my chin held high in the face of adversity for a couple of years now and so far it’s a losing battle.

But I want to share this picture of a friend’s grandchildren.  Notice anything special about any of them?  The radiant smiles, the beautiful faces, the saucy attitudes?

Anything else?  No?

The one on the right, Ava, was born without a left hand.  I haven’t seen her much, but from what I have observed and heard, she gets around just fine. She never complains.

I’m trying to learn to live with one hand, my left, permanently impaired.  At the same time, my legs seem to be getting weaker despite my best efforts.  This afternoon, I fell and busted open  my eye and broke my new glasses.  I’m feeling really sorry for myself.  So I went online and downloaded this picture of my friend Elisabeth’s grandchildren, and I told myself:  Suck it up, Buttercup!  Because whatever you have to endure, you can endure.  This precious child doesn’t even think she’s enduring anything!  She dances, and studies, and swims, and draws, and hugs her parents, and rocks a Halloween costume.  Because life is too short to sit around feeling sorry for yourself.

So.  There you have it.  My role model:  A beautiful child who lives her life to the fullest while I sit around wallowing in self-pity.  I’m grateful to know her.