Every day
he wheels up onto
the boardwalk
to the same spot
where
he sits
facing the ocean.
Every day
he has a smile on his face
that is birthed from his heart.
As I approach him
I begin to let go of
my poor attitude
of my complaining
of negativity
because
his joy
is contagious.
"Hi Billy"
comes rolling off my tongue
and then he asks questions about
my family and I,
and
then there comes
his smile
from deep in his heart.
Then I ask him about
his precious wife
his children
and
his grandchildren
and then his smile gets bigger
as the love in his heart spills out.
His heart smiles
as he speaks of his wife
his children and grandchildren...
Just like he does every day
like it is
the first day of the best day
every day,
even though
his means of transportation
is a
wheel chair~
Whether it is cold or hot
Billy
makes his way to the boardwalk
and
I think
to bring joy to anyone who he comes into contact.
But now
his joy is complete
because he no longer needs his wheelchair
because he is dancing with the Lord.
Now
every day
I will no longer be greeted
by the smile
by the face
by the conversations.
It hurts my heart
as
Billy
is no longer here.
We celebrated Billy yesterday
as it was his birthday,
just like we do every year,
with
2 other special someones, who also share the same birthday
and who also have been blessed by
Billy.
His family gathered up on the boardwalk
where he always sat
and
we smiled
and
we had joy
in our hearts
because that is where
Billy is
and that is where
Billy
will always remain~
Reminding me
and
Reminding his family and friends
to always look up
to always just smile
because there is always something to smile about~
whether it is the beauty of the ocean crashing upon the sand
or a mom pushing her baby in a stroller walking by
or the sunshine that beams through the clouds
or
the heart of a man
that touched so many lives
because
He just smiled.
Thank you
Billy
Do you have a BILLY in your life?
Are you a BILLY in another's life?
It begins with a smile
from the heart
because
there is always something to smile about
Just look up.
Thank you
Billy