Always More Room

"Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville - did not. The Grinch hated Christmas - the whole Christmas season. Now please don't ask why; no one quite knows the reason.... But I think that the most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes too small." - How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss

When Austin was 3 years old I remember reading to him How the Grinch Stole Christmas. When we got to the part about the Grinch stealing all the presents, Austin began sobbing. I did my best to reassure him that it would get better, but he wouldn't stop crying. He did not understand how the Grinch could be so cruel. I finished reading the book, figuring that would take care of it and Austin would soon be happy. But, for the next hour he cried and cried, because he felt so bad for the families whose presents were stolen, even though they did eventually get them back. Austin's heart was the exact opposite of being two sizes two small....even at 3 years old.

From a very young age I tried to teach Austin "there's always room for one more friend, to love one more person."

Looking around "The Remembering Austin Narewski" event, last Friday, I saw a beautiful reminder of how Austin always made room for "just one more person". I watched over 150 people who had been touched by Austin, one way or another... by his generous smile, easy laugh, friendly banter... all because he wasn't afraid to take a chance and befriend someone he just met. It didn't matter how old you were, what you did for work, who your other friends were, what kind of car you drove or house you lived in. He looked further and deeper than that, he looked at who you were as a person, an individual. He looked at your heart. And as he did, his heart got bigger and bigger and bigger.

One the most amazing things about our hearts is they grow and grow, but never run out of space. There is always room to love one more person. Austin was a beautiful example of this.... and still is. All I have to do is look around at all his beautiful friends!