Like a Little Child

I sat on the plane next to a four-year old.  Most people would think that is a crazy idea, but I was willing to take a chance.  The little girl was adorable and seemed to be really happy.  And, in fact, she was.

All the way to Nashville, I found myself smiling and enjoying the on-board entertainment that she was providing.  She sang "Jingle Bells", "God Bless America", and "Jesus Loves Me" to name a few songs.  She asked her Mommy if she could make songs up and sing them.  I then heard songs like, "I am going to Nashville to see my Daddy", and We're flying on a big, big plane" over and over and over again.  She also would sing 'Ding, Dong" when the bell dinged for seat belts to be buckled or electronic devices to be turned off.  Along with the songs, she made wonderful observations like, 'Wow, we are really really high up" when she looked out the window when we were still at the gate.

This little girl made me think about another little girl named Heather Miller. Heather was a 10-year-old tomboy when she was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone and tissue cancer.  She fought for 15 months but lost her battle with cancer on January 29, 2010.  She was only 11.  I am told that she always had a huge smile on her face and that she never complained, even through the unbearable pain that she suffered.  She affected the lives of several Steelers football players as well as my niece Stephanie and set an example for all of us regarding faith, courage, and love. 

There is no big lesson to be learned here I guess.  But when I take the time to stop and listen and observe, I find that I learn so much about life from little children.  They have such an incredible appreciation for small things in life.  When they color, they color in bright, wonderful colors.  They are awed with simple things like being so high up in an airplane, even when at the gate on the ground.  They sing when they are happy.  They cry when they are sad.  They teach us how to face adversity.  They teach us about the important things in life.  They live for the moment.

I hope I can become more like a little child.