CHARM

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the

charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." - Marcel Proust

My cousin's daughter MacKenzie is just shy of five years old.  Having a conversation with her should include an admission price and popcorn, because you're bound to be entertained.  It would be worth every penny.  MacKenzie is funny, smart, kind, and just look at her, she's gorgeous.



This is how part of our conversation went:

MacKenzie: You're hair is red!

Me: Yes I know...do you like it?

MacKenzie: Yeah!  It's like Ariel's hair!

Me: (Assuming she's talking about a girl at school.) Who is Ariel?

MacKenzie: You know, that girl that lives under the water.

She could have said, "The Little Mermaid", but she thinks of her first as a GIRL, who just happens to live under the water.  That's part of MacKenzie's charm.  It made me realize, this little girl has the potential to go so far, not because of how pretty she will certainly be, but because of how great of a personality she has.  We all know someone who is drop dead gorgeous, but lacking in the charm department.  Maybe they are unkind, or ungrateful, or any other "un-" word.  We like them a little less because they waste their beauty by having an ugly heart.  How sad.

What makes MacKenzie even more charming is that she doesn't even know how cute and awesome she is.  Here's a little more of our conversation:

Me: MacKenzie, how did you get to be so pretty?

MacKenzie: Oh, I was just dressed this way.

She sees herself as pretty when she's wearing pretty clothes, but she sees herself first as MacKenzie.  How awesome is that?  She's got the whole package.  And I'm lucky enough to be related to her.

Mostly, I'm happy for that half hour I was able to spend with MacKenzie. She makes my heart happy, and I hope I do the same for her.