Today is Memorial Day – the day we remember and honor fallen heroes. Many remembrance activities will take place, and many articles and blog posts will be written about this day. Remembering the fallen is important.
Today, though, I want to focus on a hero who fell but keeps going, and someone who should be an incredible inspiration to all of us.
I’m talking about Brendan Marrocco.
Brendan Marrocco
I saw a report about him on “Sunday Morning on CBS” yesterday, and I was alarmed, saddened, and tremendously encouraged.
Brendan lost his arms and legs to an IED in Iraq. But he still calls himself fortunate.
Fortunate.
I consider myself unfortunate if the milk has passed the expiration date and is no longer drinkable, or if it’s raining cats and dogs outside when I need to go to the store, or that aging means I have to use a magnifying glass to read the small print on the pill bottle, or if I have trouble now opening a jar, or that varicose veins now make my legs look like roadmaps, or that . . .
But wait! I have two arms with which I can reach for the milk in the refrigerator. I can raise an umbrella to protect myself from the rain. I can drive the car to the store. I can pick up the magnifying glass. I have two hands to grasp the jar. I have two legs on which to walk.
I am so fortunate.
pic from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/30/sunday/main6532733.shtml?tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea
Grandawn - Aging Semi-Gracefully 
It’s people like Brendan that live a life in tribute to humbleness and gratefulness. What a touching story.
My step dad was in a wheelchair most of his life. It’s amazing the resilience and fortitude these brave souls have.
God Bless him! Have a safe Memorial Day!
I like to think I would be as positive and resilient. I certainly hope so. You have a great day, too!
Its because we concentrate on the negative and not the positive… a very very humbling post this…
We’ll just have to try to focus more on the positive.
How humble I feel now, and ashamed of my daily gripes…
Me, too. I’m afraid I will probably still have them. But maybe not so many.
Most times we need reminding of how fortunate we are. Thank for that reminder!
Yes – I really try to focus on how fortunate I am. But then I get whiny, and I need to be reminded again.
Amen! and well said…(as I type this with my healthy and usable arms and fingers.)
After being sad for him, one of my first selfish thoughts was “I wouldn’t be able to work – or blog.” 🙂