J.D. SALINGER

May you rest in peace Mr. J.D. Salinger.
1919-2010

Thank you God For My Hands

Yesterday was a beautiful winter day in Lahore. The sun was out, 70 F, with a slight cold breeze, but the sun cut through it and warmed up the day nicely. Driving in and out of the maniacal Lahori traffic brought me to my mom's alma mater. It's an amazing campus, and every time I visit, I fall in love with it all over again. The landscaping is alluring and the vastness of the campus is astounding. And so, just like me, the Ravians were out soaking up the sun's rays. It was a great day to be out! And what better place to enjoy it than amidst the towering palm trees and blooming seasonal flowers that beckoned one and all to sit, take a load off, breathe, and just take it easy for a moment and smile at how great this day is. My dad had a meeting to attend, and I gladly agreed to wait outside.

Every student was so at ease in this environment......faces beaming and proud to be Ravian. Everyone was busy going their way. There was a special calm about the place that was charming. And it's always like this whenever I visit. The campus always has this picture-perfectness about it. And it was right then that I spotted her. Among all the trendy dressed students, she was no different. Wearing a blue shalwar kameez with striped sweater and blue dupatta. Her hair medium length. She was in a hurry. Her heavy bag seemed to be slowing her down, but she was determined to make it to class on time. Her friends---2 girls and 2 boys, were busy revising the lecture they attended the day before. Someone asked the time, and she pulled up her sleeve to check her watch. "11:15", she said. She wore her watch on her left arm.....that arm had a hand with a thumb and one finger. Her right hand was also not completely formed. She had a congenital deformity of both her hands known as radial clubhand. It wasn't something out of the ordinary for me to see. My profession entails all this. However, what struck me was how well she fitted in with all the other students. She was, like a majority of physically challenged individuals, very confident and not conscious of her disability. Except for her hands, she was just like every other girl, every other student, every other Ravian. 

But, what I mostly realized were my hands. And the next thing that came to mind was how grateful I should be for this blessing. Just being grateful for this alone should wipe away all the moments of anguish I feel when things aren't working out the way I want them to. If God isn't bestowing upon me these things, then who cares?!......at least I have my hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hands that put food in my mouth, comb my hair, and put clothes on me. Everything we are and do is because of our hands, and never once do we stop to realize how easily our tasks are accomplished. So, thank you God. I have felt angry and upset one too many times when I don't get things I had planned and hoped for. But, really, all of my frustration and anger is futile and meaningless in face of this immense blessing---hands.