Yesterday when getting out of the truck at the grocery store we heard, “Excuse me” in a cute little voice.

My husband and I stopped and turned around to find the voice came from an adorable little boy about 8 years old or so and his mom.

He immediately started reciting a very well-rehearsed speech, showing us what he had made and asking if we’d like to donate “only $5.00″ to help “people like me, see, I was born without a thumb” and mentioned it was through the Boy’s Club of St. Louis.

Oh, he was sooooooooo cute, and so brave and I just HAD to buy one. (That shouldn’t surprise you!)

It even touched my husband since he almost immediately looked at me and said, “Do you have a five?” (You should know that’s a HUGE impact on MY husband!)

I asked his mom if I could take a picture to put with my blog post but she declined, saying if it were her decision she’d be fine with it but they’ve got their rules.

She said it made him feel good to know I wanted to. (Now THAT made my day!)

She said they do it to raise money, but also to get the kids out of their shell because most of them are very backward due to being picked on.

Very sad, indeed…

I wished them well and they both said, “God bless you.”

Simply amazing…

I tell you, it made my day. That young man inspired me tremendously!

It definitely made me think about the comfort level he has to have developed to walk up to strangers and go into his speech. (His mom said that about three quarters of the people just walk away or they’ll listen to his speech and then say, “No.”)

It also made me think about how grateful I am to have both of my thumbs (and every other finger/toe/limb.)

How we take these things for granted.

But watching how he handed the picture to me between his pointer and middle finger made me realize it’s such a blessing just to have fully functioning everything.

When was the last time you thought about how truly blessed you are for:

• Your health? - It could go in an instant.
• Your body? - Ever have to deal with a broken arm or other limb? How did that temporarily disrupt your life?
• Your sight? - Close your eyes and try to live your life.
• Your hearing? - Imagine being without music, reading people’s lips, etc…
• Smell? - Your favorite dinner, flowers, a freshly powdered baby.

And the list goes on….

Are you feeling a bit of gratitude (and possibly shame) right now?

I know I certainly am feeling the gratitude… I’ve learned that shame is useless (right along with blame and other low-vibration emotions!)

As I’ve pointed out before, I have the tendency (call it a gift, a curse or otherwise) to see things in a different light. Some people call my way of looking at things a blessing, others call me just plain weird.

Let them.

I just wonder how many of those people who told our brave young man “No” even THOUGHT about him again?

I wonder how many of them dogged him for bothering them?

I wonder IF any of them regretted not helping him.

If so, then his message of inspiration at least somewhat got across.

No judgment comes from me toward the ones who “opted out” so to speak.

It’s their choice.

I just hope that sweet, sweet, brave little boy with one thumb made a difference in their lives.

I know he did mine…