A charity that raises money for children's congenital heart defects had asked for a photograph of a child's fingers making the shape of a heart for their upcoming website. Pressed for time, I took out my camera and asked him to please make a heart with his fingers. He looked down at his hands and then back up at me and said, "How?" I showed him a few times but he couldn't hold still and giggled his way through my frustration. When he observed my disappointment that the shape wasn't clear, he finally said, "I want to do it, but how?" He ran away to hide in his room when the phone rang and I shared with a friend what I was trying to accomplish and she - being a teacher - told me that he was still too young to master such dexterity. Of course. I resumed photographer duties, but this time with more patience and kindness. I now see that what he accomplished that morning was beyond good enough. Afterall, he is my enthusiastic and creative 3 year-old son, my light, my love and the best heart-shaper that I know.
