Bragging Rights...

I really have to admit this blog post is more of a "brag post". Today is one of those days where I am beaming with pride. I understand that some of what we try to teach our children comes through in their personalities and some of it is just what God has given them. We can try our hardest to instill good values in them and lead lives that we would be proud for them to follow, but we can only do so much.
Anna has wanted to get her hair cut short for months. I have tried to talk her out of it, changed the subject and so on. She hadn't changed her mind and was tired of it being in her face, so we decided it was time for her to choose. When she said she wanted it short, I thought okay, we can do this. After posting the idea on facebook a friend of mine mentioned Pantene's lengths of love. I told Anna about it and she thought the idea was kind of icky, saving hair and all. She wasn't sure she would do it. I let it go for a day and today when I picked her up from school she still wasn't sure. Thanks to a friend who is the mom of a Cancer survivor she gave me the advice to tell her about a little girl named Riley. One of Anna's closest friends is a Cancer survivor, this little girl is a part of The Dragonfly foundation with her friend Lillie. She knows that Lillie had cancer and a little about it. Lillie hadn't lost her hair, Praise God, so she was unaware of that part. I explained Chemo to her (in the version for a 5 year old) and told her that Riley had to start it and would lose her hair. She then said that she wanted to donate her hair so little girls who were sick and lost their hair can feel pretty. By the time we got to the salon she was on board and excited to do this. My cousin, who has also donated her hair, gave her an excellent new hair cut, just like Anna wanted. She has been telling everyone that she is going to mail her hair for a little girl who is sick and needs new hair. And she is in love with her new haircut!
Her love and compassion never cease to amaze me. Simply hearing of 1 little girl who was in need she immediately changed her mind on something she was uncomfortable with to help her. God has given us a pretty amazing gift in Anna! I have a feeling she just might help to change the world someday....