Look What I have Left

Contrast Dave’s reaction with that of a 14 year-old girl. Nancy Ortberg gave her story. It seems Nancy worked as a registered nurse for about ten years. One of her earliest patients was a young girl of about 14 who had been in a dirt bike accident. She met this young girl in the physical therapy department. The girl was in a whirlpool bath. Nancy read her chart before she went down learned that as a result of the accident, her leg had been amputated below the knee.

Nancy says she couldn't imagine what it must be like to be a 14-year-old girl with part of your leg missing. When she arrived, Nancy introduced herself, and the two of them made some small talk. Through the course of their time together, Nancy learned that she was a follower of Christ, although she really didn't say much about that.

Nancy says, however, that she was not prepared for her spirit, however, when she lifted her freshly amputated leg up above the bubbling water for Nancy to see and said, "Look at how much I have left!"

The girl excitedly told Nancy that since the doctors were able to amputate below the knee, it was much easier to fit a prosthesis. She wondered how long it would take to heal so that she could get started with that. Nancy heard most of what she was saying, but She wasn't really paying much attention. Her mind was fixed back on the "look how much I have left!" Her gratitude seemed really genuine. It wasn't denial or a Pollyanna mentality. She knew she was missing a good part of her leg, and she wouldn't have chosen that. But she was so very thankful for this bit of good news. Her spirit made Nancy’s spirit soar that day. Nancy had two good legs.

You see, “Life is 2 percent what happens to you and 98% how you react to it.”