The Will to Write by Any Means Necessary

Image Source: The Mirror (Ten-year-old Sara (left) with her sister Veronica)

You know, some days when I’m feeling overwhelmed by the mound of adversity that seems to crash down on me like a ton of bricks, even in spite of my issues, there is always someone or something to quickly remind me of how blessed I am. When I saw this story on television last week I was humbled and brought to tears.

Cursive writing, once a requirement in school for me when I was growing up, seems to be a lost art form nowadays. I still don’t understand why so many school systems no longer offer this as a requirement, regardless of modern technology soaring to keyboard expressionism.

Image source: Yahoo (Sara Hinesley’s entry form for the 2019 Nicholas Maxim Award)

This story, while one may ask what the big deal is about some 10-year little girl winning a national handwriting competition, you first need to know about this extraordinary student. First, her name is Sara Hinesley, a third-grade student at St. John’s Regional Catholic School located in Frederick, Maryland. Sara won the 2019 Nicholas Maxim Award for her cursive writing.

Still not impressed? Oh, did I mention Sara was born without hands? Yes, this remarkable little girl has a “Can-Do-Anything” attitude and moves beyond what we see as impossible. She does not focus on her disability. She climbs, draws, and swims just like any other kid born with hands and finds a way to tackle an obstacle when she is challenged to do some task requiring the usage of your hands.

Image source: Yahoo (Sara Hinesley, 10, completes an art project. Photo – Cathryn Hinesley)

What impressed me, even more, is that Sara is adopted and came to the United States from China about four years ago. At the time she could only speak Mandarin but quickly learned English with the help of her sister Veronica.

So on those days when I throw myself a self-indulgent pity party, I am reminded of stories like Sara’s that jerk me back to a state of humility, gratitude, and a reality that makes me feel ashamed by the thought of complaining about things I truly have no control over. Congratulations Sara and thank you for your unselfish inspiration! Continue to let your light shine brightly!

Image source: GMA (ABC News)

What’s Ahead for Your New Year?

I am not a fortune teller, so I don’t have the foggiest idea what this new year is going to evolve into. I can only hope, pray, and work towards a year of renewed beginnings for greater productivity for that which I am called to do.

Each year we feel relieved in some way that the former year is far behind us and that we can somehow navigate through each new day happier and more fulfilled. In reality, we know we will face the joy of the good-better-best which will be interwoven with events of the bad-worse-worst.

While we cannot control what happens in our daily goings and comings, we can control our attitude towards said occurrences. As the road ahead looks questionable, adventurous and often a little scary, we can start each day with the mantra to do our best with what we have, and not go ballistic over what we don’t have or probably shouldn’t have. Do your best, and once you’ve done that, learn from your mistakes, don’t repeat them, let it go, and then move onward.

Our Hidden Greatness

Potential: /pəˈten(t)SHəl/ Latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.

Years ago, I read the book “Understanding Your Potential: Discovering the Hidden You” written by Dr. Myles Munroe. The objective of Dr. Munroe’s message makes you discover the untapped wealth of your potential ability, and rise above your past experiences to unearth hidden treasures within.

Whether or not you’ve read this book or are familiar with any of Dr. Munroe’s work, this book started out with the following explosive epiphany: Where is the wealthiest spot on this planet? In the oil fields of Kuwait, Iraq or Saudi Arabia, or perhaps in the gold and diamond mines in South Africa? Nah! The richest deposits on our planet tragically lie in our cemeteries and graveyards. They contain potential that remained potential.

The wealth of dreams has been dashed into the poverty of discouragement. –Dr. Myles Munroe

If I coulda, woulda, shoulda! So this got me to thinking about whether or not I am truly exercising my right to live my best life, not the wealthiest life, but my best. What spiritual gifts and physical talents has God blessed me with to use and enrich the lives of those who need encouragement to help them pass it on and to encourage others? How will we emerge from the ashes of hopelessness into the inferno of hope?

How do we successfully plant the seeds of potential that grow into trees of plenty? How do we leave our footprints in the rich sands of history and not buried in the dirt of a cemetery? Focus on what you have and then build from there. Start this minute if you haven’t begun already. We can’t allow disappointments to disarm our determination. If we allow adversity and discouragement to win, then we’ve already lost the fight before we even got started.