"hold my hand, melt my heart"

This last weekend the Kelly family participated in the Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis walk.  Although the kids are too young now there is something very nice about surrounding them with community and awareness. 

The sun was shining and the crowd was filled with shades of purple (the cystic fibrosis awareness color). Liv was my little social butterfly, all smiles for the crowd. Case was in an especially two year old mood as we met up with our team. He whined and cried and refused to do anything but pout by the stroller. I was a little disappointed because I had hoped he would play with his friends from daycare and be charming and wonderful with the adults (sometimes I forget who I am dealing with). 

Then something amazing happened, the walk started and Case's demeanor completely changed. He started walking in that big crowd of people, we lost our group to include Curtis and Liv, we were of course walking at his tiny leg speed, but Case was smiling. He was chatting with people walking by telling them about alligators and monsters, he was running small bursts with other kids that came by. He said "look mommy, I go faster and faster" and every now and then he said "come on mommy, hold my hand." That kid can push me to my breaking point and melt my heart all in the same moment. I started thinking about why we were at the walk; we were walking for my friend Tammy's Godson who is living with cystic fibrosis.  I remembered how lucky I am to have not one, but two healthy kids. I remembered that somewhere a mom is wishing that her child was well enough to be a "terrible two year old" wishing her child had lived long enough to be a "terrible two year old." I remembered there is no guarantee in this life that Case will always be healthy, all that can change in an instant. I looked at Case and thought about him; maybe he isn't so terrible after all. 

He is however extremely sensitive and cautious of the world. He is unbelievably smart and funny but only once he trusts you enough to let you see that. He isn't terrible, he is selective, a tiny little man who knows what he wants and what he doesn't want. 

Case walked the entire mile and I have never been more proud. I always refer to Liv as my joy, but Case, he is my pride.

Who or what are you taking for granted that someone else might be wishing for?