Ben Carson is a skilled neurosurgeon who has saved thousands of lives, developed groundbreaking surgical techniques, and published research that has improved brain surgery throughout the world. Even more importantly, he is a devoted husband and father who loves God and strives to be His hands in a wide variety of endeavors.
His book, Gifted Hands, is a powerful read! He shows how his mother’s fierce commitment to learning, hard work, moral character changed his trajectory from a life of poverty in the inner city of Detroit to leading the pediatric neurosurgery department at Johns Hopkins University. His mother, Sonya, deeply believed in her ability to make something of her life. She infused that belief into her boys so strongly that they believed they could make something of their lives. She taught them to trust God, live with integrity, and to work hard – to be their very best.
Sonya was married at 13, divorced soon after, and had only a 3rd grade education. She was nearly illiterate and now had two sons to raise by herself. Not only did she keep them fed and clothed, she made a plan to help them escape poverty. Sonya required her sons to read two books a week and give her a written report on these books each Sunday (years later they found out she couldn’t even read their reports!). She only allowed them to watch 3 television shows a week and the rest of the time was to be spent learning or working. She expected them to succeed in school and although it wasn’t easy for either of them, they both were top students in their classes and received college scholarships.
Gifted Hands is full of gems! Here are a few:
Success is determined not by whether or not you face obstacles, but by your reaction to them. And if you look at these obstacles as a containing fence, they become your excuse for failure. If you look at them as a hurdle, each one strengthens you for the next.
If you hear how wonderful you are often enough, you begin to believe it, no matter how you try to resist it.
Do your best and let God do the rest.
I came to realize that if people could make me angry they could could control me. Why should I give someone else such power over my life?
No knowledge is ever wasted.
There isn’t anybody in the world who isn’t worth something,” I say. “If you’re nice to them, they’ll be nice to you. The same people you meet on the way up are the same kind of people you meet on the way down. Besides that, every person you meet is one of God’s children.
It’s not what you know but the kind of job you do that makes the difference
I’m grateful for Ben Carson’s commitment to becoming his best self. He is a hero to me, not because of his medical work, but because of his courage and determination to become who God created him to be. This book inspires me to study more, work harder, see people more deeply, and give my life to God more fully. I think it will do the same for you.