[prettier than freckles]

wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.

it happened one year at the zoo. a girl whose face was sprinkled with bright red freckles stood beside her grandmother. the children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.

"you've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint," a boy in the line cried. embarrassed, the little girl dropped her head.

her grandmother knelt down next to her. "i love your freckles," she said.

"not me," the girl replied.

"well, when i was a little girl i always wanted freckles," she said, tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "freckles are beautiful!"

the girl looked up. "really?"

"of course," said the grandmother. "why, just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."

the little girl peered into the old woman's smiling face. "wrinkles," she answered softly.

if i look at others with the eyes of love, i will not see blemishes. only beauty.

May 02, 2003 - 12:50 am