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Keeping A Smile

Aimee Copeland
Some of you might be wondering who she is. I'll tell you. Aimee Copeland is a University of West Georgia grad student whose body was attacked by a flesh-eating virus after a zip-lining accident in early May. The above picture was taken the day she was released from the hospital. The virus took both her hands and a leg, yet there she is with a smile on her face.

Her smile was the first thing I noticed when I first saw the photo. To be honest, I didn't notice the bandages on her arms until afterwards. I was mesmerized by her smile.

I kept wondering to myself if I would have a smile on my face after going through what she's been through. The answer is no. I've been frowned up for days over much less. And I'm so ashamed.

When I pointed out Aimee's smile to my father, he shrugged and said, "What else can she do?" In my head I thought. she could cry...she could yell to keep the cameras out of her face...she could be depressed...she could attempt to take her own life rather than live with her amputations...

Or she could smile like she's doing. I don't know her, but if I ever met her I would ask why she was smiling in this picture. Maybe she's thinking it could be much worse. Or maybe she rests on the Word of God found in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.


Whatever the reason for it, Aimee's smile reminds me that no matter what God is still God and He is still good.


Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 17, 2012 at 9:37 PM

    Amazing isn't it..goes to show we shouldn't complain about anything. She's probably smiling for the simple fact that she's still alive despite her circumstance. I work with Children with various developmental disabilities and everyday I'm reminded how bless I am.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 7, 2012 at 7:49 AM

    Maybe she's smiling because she's taking a picture.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Josie JamesSeptember 19, 2012 at 11:27 PM

      Maybe...but (IMHO) the fact that she is gracious enough to smile after what she went through speaks volumes.

      Delete

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