Life is not fair was a phrase my mother would tell me. She was right, life is not fair and people are dealt tough hands.

I’ve always believed we can’t control everything in life but we can control how we react. Or in simple coach speak “we need to control what we can control.” 

Brookhaven needs to look no further than Ledger Smith and his family for an example of controlling how we react to adversity. Ledger is a young boy who should be looking forward to going to kindergarten. Instead, he has battled Leukemia for over a year now. 

What would you do in an adverse situation? The natural human response may be to say “Why me Lord.” We might be tempted to throw our hands up, put our heads down and sulk. People may even be angry with their situation. 

Ledger’s family has taken a different approach. This summer, they collected food, toys, supplies and other donations for the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League. Ledger had the opportunity to love on some animals who dearly needed some attention. 

His family collected superhero themed band aids for Batson’s Children Hospital. Most recently, they started a project to collect school supplies for students to have a successful school year. All of these projects have been part of their Love From Ledger campaign. 

It is remarkable how one challenging chapter in Ledger’s life is being used for good. 

The family’s Love From Ledger campaign should challenge us to examine how we respond to life’s challenges. Do we place blame on ourselves or others? Do we complain or become apathetic? 

Seeing his journey may raise other questions too. How can we show love to others and how can we serve? When life gets tough we have two options. We can let ourselves be defeated or we can keep fighting and make a difference. 

Ledger had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch for the Brookhaven Academy softball team this past week. His jersey had a name plate of “Super Ledger.” Seeing the pictures of him throwing out the first pitch reminded me how this child remains strong as he fights cancer. I hope his story continues to inspire the community.