Lately I have been seeing in my mind's eye the vision of a little girl.
A bright, beautiful child who smiles radiantly, is ever so good, and loved fervently by her grandmother.
Despite the troubled life bestowed upon this child, she flourishes and comes to know through the passage of years that she is indeed loved.
Though devoid of the love of her parents, the love of her Grandmother and a host of good and kind people bolstered her spirit and her confidence.
And she grew into a lovely woman who shared generously and openly from the good will of her heart.
She became a wonderful mother who loved her children fiercely with the mother's love denied her as a child.
As much as I would like to say that this is the hapless beginning as well as the contented ending to her story, this is not the case.
My memory has recently been refreshed by a little girl in similar circumstances.
She is fortunate to have a loving and supportive grandparent as in the story above; and that's where the similarities begin and end.
Her story has yet to be written.
And it will be no fairy tale.
It will depend upon all of the people out there who move through her days; heedless of their influence, simply carrying out their responsibilities: the teachers, the mothers of her friends, the extended family members, the brownies and girl scouts leaders, the coaches, the best friends and the boyfriends.
All of those people who will touch her life in the absence of her parents; the people that will make a difference.
The kind and gentle touch of a hand...
the nod of approval from a teacher...
the encouragement of a coach...
the example of the mothers of her friends...
learning of her beauty from an admirer...
knowing these are people she can trust and count on...
and finally discovering her own self worth.
There are far too many children today with absentee parents; and that number is growing.
It really does take the people weaving through their youth to form the whole person they eventually become.
These people are unaware that they are this child's unsung heroes.
These people are you and me.
They will remember our kindness and our good will; that is where their example comes from.
I hope that I am always readily aware of what a simple smile can mean; what a nod of approval can do...
and the difference that the generosity of good will can make for a child.
Smile at a child today.
Hug your own.
Be an example.
They need you.
All of them.
This story is dedicated to my friend, his beautiful granddaughter; and to the woman and mother she will grow to become.