King's Daughter's Kitchen

My ability to do hard work in my mind and body comes from God. Sweat makes me fully human. If a person can work in any way, it means that he or she is alive. Sweat from work is beautiful.

I was a premie. The doctor told mom that she should place me in an institution because of my cerebral palsy. My mom was overprotective to the max. She said that I would have to marry well, but she did not expect much of me. It was engrained in me as a kid that I wasn’t like others, that I couldn’t do or go like other kids. One day as a fifth grader, I got sick of being belittled and left out. I decided to prove everyone wrong, but to keep it my secret.

Kids and most teachers thought that I wasn’t smart. I needed more time to work problems and commit things to memory. I was shy, did not speak in class, and had two friends.

I had a lot of time to read and learn new words. By eighth grade, I had read most books in our small library. My friend brought me a book from the high school. The middle school librarian saw me reading it and asked where I got it. I told her the truth, “from a friend.” She said I was a thief and needed to return the book. 

My anger and hurt made me more determined than ever to learn words, to know adult things, to be able. I began working off my anger by walking, then riding my bike. First, I made it around the block, then to the store, next to the park. Last, I snuck off to the “library” and went to the next town. With each trip, I hurt more than ever before, but my confidence and muscles grew.

The more words I knew, the more power I gained in my world. People couldn’t trick me or lie to me because I knew the roots of their words and had learned to watch body  language, to use my senses to guess true intent.

I memorized Bible verses, then chapters. The Holy Spirit grew me and taught me more than I could ever learn in books. I learned that I am important to God. When I work with my mind or my body, I should work as if God is my boss, God is approving, watching, helping, giving me strength, judging my final product. He allowed and orchestrated each part of my growth. He created me, and He created sweat. No matter what I do or how I work, sweat or dirt on my face or not, I am a person made in the image of God, the same as everyone else.