A number of years ago in Elkhart, Kansas, two brothers
had a job at the local school. Early each morning their job
was to start a fire in the potbellied stove in the classroom.
One cold morning, the brothers cleaned out the stove
and loaded it with firewood. Grabbing a can of kerosene,
one of them doused the wood and lit the fire. The explosion
rock the old building. the fire killed the older brother and
badly burned the legs of the other brother. It was later
discovered that the kerosene can had accidentally been
filled with gasoline.
The doctor attending the injured boy recommended
amputating the young boy's legs. The parents were devastated.
They had already lost one son, and now their other son was
to lose his legs.But they did not lose their faith. They asked
the doctor for a postponement of the amputation. The doctor
consented. Each day they asked the doctor for a delay, praying
that their son's legs would somehow heal and that he would
become well again. For two months, the parents and the doctor
debated on whether to amputate. They used this time to instill
in the boy the belief that he would walk again someday.
They never amputated the boy's legs, but when the bandages
were finally removed, it was discovered that the right leg
was almost three inches shorter than the other. The toes of
his left foot were almost completely burned off. Ye the boy
was fiercely determined. Though in excruciating pain, he
forced himself to exercise daily and finally took a few painful
steps. Slowly recovering, this young man finally threw away
his crutches and began to walk almost normally. Soon he was
running.
This determined young man kept running and running
and running- and those legs that came so close to being amputated
carried him to a world record in the mile run. His name?
Glenn Cunningham, who was known as the "World's Fastest
Human Being." and was named athlete of the century at Madison
Square Garden.....
REF:THE SPEAKER'S SOURCEBOOK BY GLENN VAN EKEREN
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