I've Learned What I Can Do
Roger Crawford had everything he needed to play tennis - except two hands and a leg.
When Roger’s parents saw their son for the first time, they saw a baby with a
thumb-like projection extended directly out of his right forearm and a thumb and one
finger stuck out of his left forearm. He had no palms. The baby’s arms and legs were
shortened, and he had only three toes on his shrunken right foot and a withered left leg,
which would later be amputated.
The doctor said Roger suffered from ectrodactylism, a rare birth defect affecting only one
out of 90,000 children born in the United States. The doctor said Roger would probably
never walk or care for himself. Fortunately Roger’s parents didn’t believe the
doctor.
“My parents always taught me that I was only as handicapped as I wanted to be,”
said Roger. “They never allowed me to feel sorry for myself or take advantage of
people because of my handicap. Once I got into trouble because my school papers were
continually late,” explained Roger who had to hold his pencil with both
“hands” to write slowly. “I asked Dad to write a note to my teachers,
asking for a two-day extension on my assignments. Instead Dad made me start writing my
paper two days early!”
Roger’s father always encouraged him to get involved in sports, teaching Roger to
catch and throw a volleyball, and play backyard football after school. At age 12, Roger
managed to win a spot on the school football team.
Before every game, Roger would visualize his dream of scoring a touchdown. Then one day he
got his chance. The ball landed in his arms and off he ran as fast as he could on his
artificial leg toward the goal line, his coach and teammates cheering wildly. But at the
ten-yard line, a guy from the other team caught up with Roger, grabbing his left ankle.
Roger tried to pull his artificial leg free, but instead it ended up being pulled off.
“I was still standing up,” recalls Roger. “I didn’t know what else to
do, so I started hopping towards the goal line. The referee ran over and threw his hands
into the air. Touchdown! You know, even better than the six-points was the look on the
face of the other kid who was holding my artificial leg.”
Roger’s love of sports grew and so did his self-confidence. But not every obstacle
gave way to Roger’s determination. Eating in the lunchroom with the
other kids watching him fumble with his food proved very painful to Roger, as did his
repeated failure in typing class. “I learned a very good lesson from typing
class,” said Roger. “You can’t do everything - it’s better to
concentrate on what you can do.”
One thing Roger could do was swing a tennis racket. Unfortunately, when he swung it hard,
his weak grip usually launched it into space. By luck, Roger stumbled upon an odd-looking
tennis racket in a sports shop and accidentally wedged his finger between its
double-barred handle when he picked it up. The snug fit made it possible for Roger to
swing, serve and volley like an able-bodied player. He practiced every day and was soon
playing - and losing - matches.
But Roger persisted. He practiced and practiced and played and played. Surgery on the two
fingers of his left hand enabled Roger to grip his special racket better, greatly
improving his game. Although he had no role models to guide him, Roger became obsessed
with tennis and in time he started to win.
Roger went on to play college tennis, finishing his tennis career with 22 wins and 11
losses. He later became the first physically handicapped tennis player to be certified as
a teaching professional by the United States Professional Tennis Association. Roger now
tours the country, speaking to groups about what it takes to be a winner, no matter who
you are.
“The only difference between you and me is that you can see my handicap, but I
can’t see yours. We all have them. When people ask me how I’ve been able to
overcome my physical handicaps, I tell them that I haven’t overcome anything.
I’ve simply learned what I can’t do - such as play the piano or eat with
chopsticks - but more importantly, I’ve learned what I can do. Then I do what I can
with all my heart and soul.”
And the Bible says:
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
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If anyone speaks badly of you,
live so none will believe it.
“A good name is more desirable
than great riches”
Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)
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