This is a great article written by loswhit for Ragamuffin Soul… we liked it. hope you do too!
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“Losing Arms, Parenting, and Breaking Barbies”
We had JUST gotten out of the car.
By the time I got to the front door I saw my one armed 9 year old.
“Baby. That’s not nice. You know that. Take your arm out.”
“But daddy. Why? I don’t want 2 arms. I only want one.”
pause…
“I want to be like Bethany.”
The lessons in this 28 word exchange are too many to list.
We had just gotten back from seeing Soul Surfer.
The amazing film about Bethany Hamilton, surfer girl whose arm was bitten off by a shark during a surf session with some friends.
What this misfit of a dad was accidentally doing was trying to influence my daughter that somehow, 2 armed Sohaila was “better”.
While she had figured out that no, “Better” is not symmetry. “Better” is overcoming adversity and inspiring others.
The rest of the night they all played with one arm, ripped one arm off of their favorite Barbies, and ate dinner with one arm.
They had showed me that inspiring with one arm is actually “better” than doing nothing with 2.
It’s better that way.
-Los
Kathryn - When I first saw soul surfer I fell in love with it. Bethany Hamilton is such a brave, wonderful, most inspiring person I have ever heard of. When I was five or six I would go to the beach and ride waves into the shore. When I saw soul surfer I was so inspired and this summer my dad is teaching me how to surf again. Last year my P.E. Teacher had a poster of Bethany it wasn’t up so I asked him if he could put it up so when I would see that poster of her I would feel so happy and inspired I can’t even say what amazement I feel inside when I hear her name. She is truly my HERO and she always will be I hope one day I will be able to see her surf in person and have the chance to meet her! I am so so proud of her I hope she will keep surfing because she is so amazing! Bethany you are the bravest person I have ever seen!
Kathryn - When I first saw SoulSurfer, I couldn’t get it out of my head. Before I fell asleep that night I was just thinking of how you looked at this opportunity to share with the world. The next day I tried to do things with 1 arm. It was tough! I tried opening a jar of pickles, couldn’t do it. Tried to do my make-up and I poked my eye. And putting my contacts in was dreadful! But I try everyday now to do these things and I am actually pretty good at it! I would love to go surfing but I don’t live where there is good surfing water. Bethany Hamilton is my inspiration, role model and some day I hope to meet her and see her surf. Keep on surfing Bethany Hamilton!
Monica - When I first watched Soul Surfer in 2012, what my parents and I first thought about it was “Incredible. She is really faithful and never gives up on everything.” After watching, I started google her and read her amazing stories. I was amazed. I love her, I love the movie, I can’t stop watching it. On the next days, my cousin came and I told her the story. She recommended the church to tell this story by letting people watch it in church. So, she borrowed it and let the church borrowed it. I couldn’t believe what they say, “Amazing.” and many of them cried during the movie. On the next days, my cousin texted me to tell that the priest wanted to borrow it. So, of course I let him watch and wherever I am, I really want to share this story, but I don’t know how to. I told some of my friends about her story. They were all amazed. And today, I googled her name and found this site. I really thank God for letting me post this comment. God bless you.