I recall a trip to a local restaurant with my parents from about 20 years ago.  Not because the food was great, not because of anything we talked about, but because of what I saw. 

I was a teen in a typically crabby teen mood. I’m not even sure why but I think it had something to do with taking a loss in one sport or another.  We’d simply gone out on a Sunday evening to grab a quick bite for dinner before the week started.  Then I saw a young boy, probably eight or nine years old, enter the restaurant and come over to the booth across from us.  He was so excited and filled with joy to be there. He also wore braces on his forearms that extended to crutches as he labored to climb into that booth. But he did it on his own, set his crutches down and went back to the excitement of the moment.

At that point I realized how fortunate I was.  I also realized how much I took for granted.  It’s a moment and a lesson that has stuck with me this long because of how inspirational I found someone so much younger, and seemingly braver than myself. It’s a moment that has stuck with me for so many years and I remember it so vividly. I saw a passion and love of life in him that was utterly amazing.

We are not promised tomorrow.  We are not promised an easy road.  We have been given today…what are you going to do today?

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