FINGERS. PALMS. HANDS.

Yesterday, I saw two boys with no hands.

I was on my way to work, on my usual morning commute when I chanced upon this boy, about 16 or 17 years old, who was on his way to school. I assumed so because he was carrying a small College Algebra book. Along with the book was a small coin purse. I was so amazed at how easily he opened its zipper, got the money and paid for his fare. I then wondered how he got dressed for school that morning, how he tied the laces on his shoe... Did someone help him? What about when he sits in his class? How will he jot down notes?

We were on this jeepney ride for about 15 minutes and we sat in front of each other... I couldn't help staring at him not because I pitied him and not because I found him odd. It was because I admired him. He had this carefree look on his face and I can tell he was used to people eyeing him... but still, he had this small, almost secret smile on his lips.

He got off the jeepney before I did.

I thought he wasn't to cross my mind again until I saw another boy, younger than the first, with no hands. I was waiting at the bus stop when he and his mother passed by me. I saw him smiling up at his mother.

And then I wondered, "Two boys with no hands in a day... God, are you trying to tell me something?"

I thought of all the things I wouldn't be able to do if I had no hands...

I wouldn't be able to write, something I consider a vital part of who I am.
I wouldn't be able to cook or bake, something my Mom does that I admire and I want to be good at too.
I wouldn't be able to hold hands with my friends or loved ones, something I always do.
I wouldn't be able to hold a book, one of the many joys I find in reading.
I wouldn't be able to touch, one thing I do when words fail me.
I wouldn't be able to give high fives to my colleagues when we do something brilliant, to my friends when we laugh at something, to my nephew when he does something great.
I wouldn't be able to put on make up or fix my hair, the one thing I do to make myself feel better when I feel that nothing is going right.
I wouldn't be able to give myself pedicures, one of my guilty pleasures.
I wouldn't be able to type a text to my friends or this blog for that matter.
I wouldn't be able to wash and iron clothes or fix my things.

There's so much more I can say that I would not be able to do if I had no hands but most of them for myself... did you notice? It's true, God might have been telling me to be grateful that I am complete... and I am. But I also realized that maybe, God is telling me to make my hands more useful by extending it to others who need my help. There are a lot of things people who don't have hands can do because they have the will to do it. Think of how much more people like us can do if we only try.

To the two wonderful boys who inspired me to write this blog, I wish you well. I hope the world will be kind to both of you and that you won't let your disability get in the way of reaching your dreams. I hope you'll continue to inspire strangers like me. I send my love to the wind and hope that when it reaches you, you'll smile.