Fragile

Every Christmas, we watch "A Christmas Story" with "Ralphie" and "Randy." If I get my way, we watch it about 18 times. Hey, you don't earn the right to quote the movie year 'round until you've seen it 372 times.

Anyway.

There's a part in the movie when the father receives, via delivery truck, a large wooden box marked "Fragile." We all know it's the infamous leg-lamp...but I still feel that pang of anticipation for him each time he runs his hand over the word, proclaiming, "Must be Italian...."
And then, as the story goes, that fragile leg breaks into a dozen pieces when Mother is cleaning one day, proving its delicate state and crushing Father's dreams of being a "major-award" winner along with it.

Such is life. Literally.

I've learned that as I get older, I also get more emotional. Maybe 10 years ago, if you would've told me there was a disastrous earthquake that decimated a region of the world, I would have had sympathy, and I might have acknowledged it to be horrific, but my life would have remained the same. I would certainly not have taken any time out of my day to thank God for my safety, nor would I have asked Him to comfort those grieving.

Now, I see a house fire on the news, and I'm reduced to weeping. And praying. Prayers of comfort and peace for those who are homeless. Prayers of thanksgiving for the safety and health of my family. Funny how things have changed.

I suppose it is just that I've realized that little things can alter the course of one's life. Even little things are big things, sometimes. We are all indirectly affected by not only the things that happen in our own life, but also by the things that happen in others' lives. It is foolish to think that we have not, ourselves, made decisions that have changed someone's life. Have you ever fired someone? Broken a heart? Paid for someone's groceries? Sent an encouraging note? Have you ever bullied?

Life is fragile. Italian or not.

And it's ever-changing. The things that are a big deal today, won't be, in a year. Maybe even in a week. But the things we say or do can have more impact than we could ever imagine. I started writing this blog about two years ago, thinking I might bring a smile to someone's face. I've never written it with the intent to have hundreds of followers; I don't care about that. If I make one person's day a little bit more bearable, I've succeeded. I've altered the course of their day in a positive direction.

Virginia O'Hanlon wrote to The Sun back in 1897 to ask if Santa Claus is real. The Sun not only said "it was so," but that "the most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see." Think about it, next time you look at the fragility of life, and words, and actions. Think about your own contribution, and then think about the way your contribution will affect others for years to come.

Make sure it's a good one.