I recently went with my girlfriend to visit her sister, Jenni, in Atlanta.  Jenni has 2 kids, Andrew (age and Claire (age 3), who are both some of the biggest joys in my life!

Andrew, who looks up to me, has an incredible story to tell.  Before he was born, the doctors informed Jenni that Andrew would be born with a terrible condition where some his middle organs would form outside his body.  Because of this, he had to have numerous reconstructive surgeries that no child should ever have to endure, as well as a kidney transplant.  As a result of the numerous surgeries, Andrew has no abdominal muscles, no core strength, no middle body movement…something that should hinder a child from ever being like a normal young boy.  However, Andrew is different than most.

Somehow, someway, Andrew has been able to endure all the pain and suffering it has taken for the doctors to repair what they could of his body and LIVE the life of a boy that is as healthy as the next kid.  He is certainly an inspiration to be around!  It’s not the survival stories that inspire, rather it’s what he has decided to do in spite of his adversity.

On my recent visit, we were able to go watch Andrew play a baseball game on the 7-8 year old all-star team.  As we were walking up, I saw little Andrew step up to the plate and knock a double over the right fielder’s head.  I paused for just a moment and thought to myself, “no abdominal muscles…Andrew just hit a double with no abdominal muscles.  Wow! What an incredible kid!”

I watched the remainder of the game, and was reminded of the verse in 1^st Timothy that serves as motivation for me each day.

The young can inspire the old.  Whether they are 7, 17, or 37, It happens everyday, and a lot of the times it comes in smallest of ways…like hitting a double over the right fielder’s head.