Crayons That Pay

If you think things are going bad, just turn the corner and reality can change your outlook very quickly. While driving to Union, Kentucky, to photograph Maddox Johnson, a seven-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with cancer, I tried to imagine what I would find.

I couldn’t get it out of my mind just thinking how I would handle the situation, when my cell-phone rang. My wife had called to tell me that one of our six-week-old twin grandsons had been admitted to the hospital with a serious respiratory problem. My thoughts of Maddox vanished and my only thoughts were on my grandson.

When I arrived at the Johnson home, Mrs. Johnson, Maddox’s mom, was out front sweeping the walk. We talked awhile and she asked if I had any children. I told her I had two children and four grand children and as a matter of fact one of my grandsons had just been admitted to the hospital. We went inside and I was introduced to Maddox, a shy but very polite little boy. It was yes sir, no sir, something you don’t hear from children these days. Maddox paints, draws and colors pictures that he sells on Ebay to help with the mounting medical bills brought on by his illness. I spent over 30 minutes with this little boy of wonder and forgot about my grandson and my problems. Maddox’s attitude, grin and his love really caught me off guard. I was touched by his story and the time I spent with him.

But what happened next took me off my feet. As I was leaving, Maddox’s mom told me that my grandson would be in their prayers. Storing my equipment and getting into my car, it struck me; Wait a minute, my problems are nothing compared to theirs,. And yet they would pray for somebody that they didn’t even know. I had to sit there a couple of minutes to gather my thoughts before driving off. My thoughts remained with Maddox and my grandson as I returned to Lexington.
If you might be interested in purchasing some of Maddox Johnson’s paintings, drawings, search e-bay, at maddoxjohnson.com
Frank Anderson

To read the complete story, read it online here.

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