Soul Surfing

One of my closest friends and I took 6 young ladies to see "Soul Surfer" the movie based on the autobiography of Bethany Hamilton. Wow!
I did wonder if these 10-13 year old girls would be a bit too young to cope with this story, but it was spot on. What better time to sow into their lives the knowledge that you can do whatever you put your mind to, no matter what the circumstances (actually the movie even quite boldly states Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength")

My little Miss 11 has already read all about Bethany and looks up to her (mostly because they have the same name.....!) but to see her story in a movie made it so powerful. A talented young surfer, just came 1st place in a major tournament, sponsored by Rip Curl- whole surfing career ahead of her until a shark attack leaves her with only one arm.... She could have sat back and spent the rest of her life playing the victim - "poor me, I've only got one arm" but she didn't. Sure she questioned how this could possibly be the Jeremiah 29:11 for her life - "How could this be God's plan? That I only have one arm? That I can't do the thing I love the most?" But she CHOSE to make the most of every minute of her precious life and live it to the full. She got back on her board, re-learned how to surf (pushing up with only one arm and keeping her balance), refused to be labelled as handicapped and went on to not only compete but win!

Isn't that just like life?
We get all our ducks lined up in a row, then bam! Things go pear shaped.
We all have the opportunity to sit back and be victims of our circumstances or to do what Bethany did and make lemonade from the lemons life handed her.

This is the sort of person I want my kids looking up to.  Good on her for being a true role model.

xx

(I have to say that 2 highlights of the afternoon were one 13 year old saying that Bethany is her new hero and one un-named little miss asking how they made the actress Anna Sophia Robb look like she lost her arm - "did they chop her arm off to play the part?"....  I just LOVE this age!!!!!)