Shorthanded

by Rozanne Frazee

Success is living in such a way that you are using what God has given you—your intellect, abilities, and energy—to reach the purpose He intends for your life. ~Kathi Hudson

Several years ago, I was anticipating the birth of my second child. My husband and I already had a three-year-old daughter, so immediately following the delivery, when our doctor announced, “It’s a boy!” we were elated. A few seconds later, however, my husband looked at this precious infant at the end of the table and saw something that changed his elation to uncertainty.

Our baby boy was missing a left hand!

The delivery room was a blur of activity. The nurses worked on our baby as he cried nonstop, and the doctor worked on me. All I could do was lie there, cry, look up at my husband, and say, “I’m sorry.” I thought I had done something to cause this limb deficiency.

The nurse let my husband hold David for a little while. She then retrieved him from my husband’s arms and continued to work on him. Finally, I asked if I could hold him. My baby was all bundled up when they placed him in my arms, and I chose to wait until I was in my hospital room alone to look at his arm. I was confused, but I wanted to hold my baby close, comfort him, and let him know everything would be all right. I knew we faced challenges, but I loved him instantly.

When we brought our son home from the hospital, we wondered how this major disability would impact his life. Over the next few months, our thoughts were a jumble of unspoken questions:

How would we raise this child in a society that had so many expectations?

How would we raise him with healthy self-esteem?

How could he ever play sports?

What would other children say when he went to school or when he went outside to play?

If he got married, where would he put his wedding ring? Forget the wedding ring! What girl would want to date him when there were so many men out there with two hands?

Now, years later, we have watched our son grow up without the use of his left hand. We observed him at age four learn to tie his shoes—about a year or two before most children accomplish that feat. When he turned five, we did what any good parents of a kid with only one hand would do—we signed him up to play soccer.

It wasn’t too long before he wanted to play baseball. We looked at each other and said, “How in the world will he do that?” But we decided to let him try because at that time, one of the major league pitchers for the New York Yankees was a one-handed man named Jim Abbott. David consistently got on base, hitting many doubles and triples. After playing for several years, he became the starting first baseman and pitcher for his team. He also played basketball, and, to our surprise, he was one of the highest scoring members of the team.

When David entered junior high school, he wanted to play football. My husband and I looked at each other again and said, “I don’t know about this, but he’s done everything else. Why not let him try?” And he did. In fact, he played very well. David has been playing varsity football since his freshman year of high school. He has played offense and defense. In his sophomore year, he made two interception touchdowns, and this coming year, his junior year, he will play starting quarterback on his team. He has also earned a second-degree black belt in karate.

I look at my son in amazement. He has accomplished more with one hand than his dad and I together have done with four. Looking back, I smile about my concerns about dating. David has had many different girlfriends since he was in the sixth grade. This mother is no longer worried about how he will one day find a place for a wedding ring.

A couple of weeks ago, my tall, handsome son stood across from me at my kitchen counter and asked, “Mom, when I was born, would you and Dad have given me one of your hands if you could have?”

Rather surprised by the question, tears welled up in my eyes, and I said, “Yes, David, your dad or I would have given you our left hand if we could have.” Chuckling, I added,“I guess an adult hand would have looked pretty funny on your tiny little body, but we would have done it in a minute.”

“Mom, I’m so glad you couldn’t give me your hand.”

“Why?” I inquired.

“Because God has given me everything I need in my life to do what He wants me to do.”

Now, when I feel overwhelmed by a task or feel like a trial is too big for me to endure, or that I just don’t have what it takes, I think about my conversation with David. Like my son, God has given each of us exactly what we need to accomplish the things He wants us to do. We are never shorthanded when we add His immeasurable resources to our impossible circumstances.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13 NLT