“I Just Want to See a Smile on Their Faces!”

by Troy Foster

That’s what Henry told us earlier today.  He was all revved up about Valentine’s Day.  And not for the same reason that our other kids are.  He can’t eat at the school parties or lick the lollipops that now seem to go with the holiday cards.  But he’s excited about other things.

Tonight, he was just thrilled to deliver the cards that he wrote out for his friends, Ty, Chad, and Bailey – the kids’ babysitter and her brothers that have become close friends with all of our children.  A terrific family. 

As we were taking the short drive from our neighborhood to theirs, he said “Daddy, go faster.  The faster we get there, the sooner they will be happy.” 

Kristen and I laughed, but Henry persisted.  “I just want to see a smile on their faces.  It will make me happy.”  It was as simple as that. The innocent, raw, and plain truth. 

We were bummed that they weren’t home, but they stopped by later on.  (Like I said, awesome family.)  Henry got what he wanted.  They smiled, and so did he.  And laughed until we tore them apart; it would still be going on now if adults weren’t involved.

This made Henry’s Valentine’s Day.  So refreshing.  And intriguing.  I think most of us were like Henry at that age.  Easily pleased.  Ecstatic when we see those that we care about smiling and happy.  The most satisfying feeling.

At some point, that changes.  Expectations, demands, motivations.  Distractions get in the way, and cloud things a bit.

But I was humbled today, like many days, in seeing through Henry what, in the end, is important.  Just seeing the smile on the faces of those that we love.

For more inspiring stories about Henry, and the perspective he teaches, check out the book about him (Three Candles) at www.threecandlesbook.com.  It’s gotten all 5-Star reviews by Amazon Top Reviewers, and a portion of the proceeds help kids in need of medical treatment.