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Okay – so theoretically, this is the kids version of this book, but I have to tell you that I enjoyed it immensely! And I can’t wait to read it to my seven year old.
Ben Carson was one of two children living in a poor area in inner city Detroit and being raised by a single mom; a mom who would “go visit relatives” when she was really headed to a mental health facility, leaving the boys with family friends. The first thing that struck me was that this precious mother had the self awareness to know that she needed help, made herself get it, and ensured that her boys were taken care of.
Ben Carson’s mother was one determined mama bear, for sure. Sonya Carson came from a huge family and married Robert Carson when she was thirteen years old, because she believed that he would change her life. After Sonya discovered that Robert had another entire family, she left him, and that left her raising her two boys on her own. She only had a 3rd grade education and so she took mostly domestic jobs, sometimes two or three jobs at a time, to support them.
In most cases, you can see where this is headed: kids on the streets and ending up in jail or dead. Not so with the Carson boys. Mama wasn’t going to have it. When Ben was being bullied as the “dumbest kid in the whole school”, Mama decided that her boys were watching too much TV. No more. Each of the Carson boys would be responsible for reading two books and creating two book reports every single week. And Mama herself couldn’t read, so she couldn’t really help.
Ben found that reading vastly expanded his mind and his mental capabilities. He wasn’t dumb in the least – he just needed to learn that he was capable. And with his mother’s insistence, he learned that lesson well.
From the first time that Ben impressed his teacher and fellow students in class (all as a result of reading), he always read everything he could get his hands on. After attending a church service one Sunday and hearing a powerful sermon about a missionary doctor, Ben decided that his calling was to be a doctor as well. And his life’s path was set.
It wasn’t easy. Although he was perhaps the smartest kid in his high school – that didn’t carry over when he got to the hallowed halls of Yale University. But his faith and his family kept him going.
Ben decided to specialize in pediatric neurosurgery. If you don’t know what that is, it’s brain surgery on babies and kids. Wow! How much more difficult mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally could it get??? But Ben Carson was dedicated. If it hadn’t been done before, he’d do it if he could figure out a way. Ben pioneered several procedures that have given hundreds of children a normal life, including a highly controversial procedure where conjoined twins who are joined at the head are separated.
Through everything, Ben Carson relied on his God and his Mama. Both were instrumental in creating the man that he is today. Not only will you enjoy this book, but it’s a great resource for kids who need to see that they can do anything that they put their minds to!
Gifted Hands is available at Family Christian Stores here.
Article writing is also a fun, if you know then you can write or else
it is difficult to write.