Unlimited 545.1
I’ve talked before about my dear daughter Abrielle, including the fact that she was born with a disfiguring birthmark called a hemangioma that engulfed her entire nose. The birthmark was removed by Dr. Milton Waner, a brilliant surgeon. She is now a stunningly beautiful girl.
Dr. Waner’s work revealed her outer beauty, but the experience of 14 surgeries and dealing with people’s reactions to someone who looked different developed an inner beauty in her that you can’t miss.
This fine young lady is about to celebrate her Bat mitzvah (a coming of age ceremony for Jewish girls), and I want to share with you a poem I wrote that will be read during the service. It’s an invocation many parents can share with their children.
Unlimited
Within you lies unlimited potential.
Unlimited potential for both success and significance.
Unlimited potential for happiness and worthiness.
Within you lies unlimited strength.
Unlimited strength to resist every temptation and overcome every tragedy.
Unlimited strength to control your attitudes and your actions.
Within you lies unlimited love.
Unlimited love to embrace those who are easy to care about and those who are not.
Unlimited love to feel and express gratitude for the world you live in and the people who care about you.
Unlimited love to forgive others and yourself.
Within you lies unlimited courage.
Unlimited courage to believe in yourself despite frustrations and failures.
Unlimited courage to withstand unkind words and unexpected betrayals.
Within you lies unlimited wisdom.
Unlimited wisdom to choose your own path and to choose the right path.
Unlimited wisdom to know the difference between fun and happiness.
Within you lies everything you will ever need to be and get everything you will ever want.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Comments
I love this poem, I am going to read it to both of my children and often, (ages 14 & 16)thank you for all your inspiration and wisdome. I am going to begin to read your character counts messages from each day while my family is having dinner. This will give us all something new to talk about each evening, and hopefully my husband and I will see our childrens character grow in the process.
Thank you again
December Quinlan
Posted by: December D. Quinlan | December 14, 2007 12:15 PM
Mazel Tov on Abrielle's Bat Mitzvah
Very moving poem.
Told my daughter, a high school English teacher, she has to read this poem to her classes. It will give the students strength and understanding.
Thank you for Character Counts
Karen
Posted by: Karen | December 14, 2007 5:08 PM
My granddaughter will be a Bas Mitzvah this spring and I will read this as part of my speech.
Thank you and Mazel Tov!
Leslie
Posted by: Leslie | December 14, 2007 8:01 PM
Thank you for posting this beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing your meaningful thoughts about your daughter. You have inspired me with your messages over many years. I am grateful
Posted by: J. Lyman | December 14, 2007 9:36 PM
Dear Micheal
I am writing to you from Israel. I love what you are doing with the CC program! As Israel is always a number of years behind America;we also have need for such a program in our communities.
Your poem is heartfelt and beautiful.
I am sure your daughter was just as beautiful to you before the operations as now!
Mazal tov
Ziona
Posted by: Ziona Etzion | December 15, 2007 7:43 AM
This was encouraging to hear on the radio the day our 9-month-old granddaughter went home from the hospital after her first surgery for cleft lip palate.
Posted by: Donald Shoemaker | December 15, 2007 12:41 PM
I love this poem, it is a 'Places you will go' for the teenage mind.
I intend to print and frame a copy for each of my teenage daughters and make it one of their Christmas gifts.
Great Stuff, thank you for sharing it with us!
Stuart
Posted by: Stuart Mann | December 17, 2007 10:10 AM
Love this poem. My youngest daughter also had a hemangioma that disfigured her mouth and nose on the right side. We went through several treatments and surgeries and still have another cosmetic surgery to finish. This poem is encouraging and I plan on reading it tongiht to my 3 girls and son. Thank YOu
Posted by: Neal Adams | December 17, 2007 11:38 AM
Nice
Posted by: E | December 20, 2007 4:53 PM
This applies to our lovely daughter, born with a severe club foot. Never treated as disabled,she endured 18 surgeries and became an expert at using crutches. Now an adult, she has her doctorate in physical therapy as a burn and wound specialist.
Posted by: Patty Hayes | December 20, 2007 10:26 PM
Will read to ourHigh School Seniors.
Character Counts is a lighted candle for the young and even for the not so young...
Keep going!!
Posted by: Josie Beltran | December 21, 2007 3:50 AM
Michael - you got it exactly right. I am saving this as a sample speech for all my bnai mitzvah parents to use when they address their parents. Mazal tov to you.
John
Posted by: Rabbi John Rosove | December 21, 2007 6:30 AM
I love this poem. Thanks for sharing it. My twin children lost their hair in elementary school from having Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune condition. They are 16 now and handle their condition very well. Your poem reinforces what we've always tried to convey to them.
Posted by: NMC | December 21, 2007 7:27 AM
How fortunate for Abrielle to have a father who can so eloquently articultate what all parents hope to impart to their children!
Mazel Tov to Abrielle on her Bat Mitzvah!
Posted by: Gail | December 21, 2007 8:39 AM
UNLIMITED
WHAT A WONDERFUL POEM.
I COPIED IT AND PUT IN A PHOTO FRAME AND WILL GIVE IT TO MY GRANDSON WHO WILL TURN "21" ON DECEMBER 26. HE IS A SCHOLARSHIP SOCCER PLAYER FOR CAL STATE POMONA AND A TERRIFIC BOY. HE FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF EVERYTHING YOU WROTE ABOUT.
HAVE ANOTHER GRANDSON TURNING "21" in FEB. HE'S A SWEET BOY, BUT.....NEEDS TO READ THIS EVERY DAY!
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I LISTEN TO YOU FAITHFULLY ON KNX RADIO!
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND BOOD HEALTH.
Posted by: PHYLLIS KNOLL | December 23, 2007 10:22 AM