A Lesson in Heart

A lesson in "heart" is my little 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, who was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. She came home one beautiful spring day to tell me she had competed in "field day" -that's where they have lots of races and other competitive events. Because of her leg support, my mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my Sarah, things I could say to her about not letting this get her down - but before I could get a word out, she said, "Daddy, I won two of the races!" I couldn't believe it! And then Sarah said, "I had an advantage." Ahh. I knew it. I thought she must have been given ahead start . . . some kind of physical advantage. But again, before I could say anything, she said, "Daddy, I didn't get a head start . . . my advantage was I had to try harder!" That's heart! That's my Sarah.

By Stan Frager from Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul Copyright 1996
 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Patty Hansen

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