Two

If two boxes were side by side,
one labeled beauty,
the other labeled bitterness,
which one would you choose?
Seems like no contest.
Why is this even a question?
Who wouldn't snatch the beauty box and crush it to his chest yelling, "Mine! Mine!"
Reality is, though, that sometimes
our grasp veers off course.
We wrap our hands -- our souls -- around the other one.
The ugly one.
The wicked, choking, deadly one . . .

. . . when we don't get our own way.
. . . when a sharp remark cuts to the marrow.
. . . when tragedy crashes into our lives.
That's when it's hard to see beauty, let alone grab it and embrace it.
Two boxes.
One choice.
Which one will you reach for today?