Here is my new story. It is for anyone who has ever felt little and afraid. I hope you enjoy it. God bless you always.

When I was 4 years old my parents entered me in Kindergarten. Because I was born on September 29th they were given the option of letting me enter early or wait a whole extra year. I was a good reader and eager to go to school so Mom agreed. This led to me always being the smallest one in the class. When I look at the old class pictures I was always half a head shorter than everyone else. To avoid being bullied I made friends with the biggest and most athletic boys in the school. And since I was so small and not the best athlete myself, I tried to be the smartest and funniest one in class. I tried to be a leader on the playground and helped the bigger boys with their schoolwork. But a part of me deep inside always felt shy, little and afraid.

Even after puberty caught me up with everyone in high school, the scared little boy inside remained. I lifted weights to get bigger but hurt my back instead. I got banged up playing football. And after I quit exercising my muscles turned to fat. It took me a lot of years to lose the extra weight and my back still hurts me to this day all because I grew up little.

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if my parents had waited a year to put me in school. Would I have been different growing up the biggest instead of the littlest? In the end I am glad that I did go early. Growing up little taught me a lot about fear. It made me kinder. It strengthened my love and compassion. Growing up little made my heart and soul bigger. Growing up little brought me closer to God and made me who I am today.

Sometimes we get to choose the roads we take in this life and sometimes the choice is made for us. But what is important is how we travel that road. May you travel yours with a light and loving heart. May you help others along the way. May you take God’s hand with each step you take. And may you always remember that in God’s eyes no life is little.