EDUTAINMENT OF THE WEEK: GIFTED HANDS.

'Gifted Hands' , Ben Carson.

This is an amazing inspirational biography drama of Dr. Ben Carson that reveals him going against all odds to achieve great things. Dr. Ben Carson surpasses what some expect from him being fatherless, minority, wrong-neighborhood, disadvantaged sort of kid that is expected to become a burden on society, not a Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgery specialist.  As i watched this movie, thoughts of the possibilities of my dreams flooded my mind and i was encouraged to hold on to my dreams and live them.

For Children

The flow of the movie is a great one for children with the usual fairy tale ending as it transits from rejection to acceptance, from under privileged to privileged, hopelessness to hopefulness, and failure to success, discrimination to celebration. It reveals the peculiar struggles and challenges that he faced and how he can overcame them by trusting in God, believing in himself, listening to and trusting his mum,studying hard and holding on to what fascinates and interests him which is the 'human brain'.

In this movie children will: 

·         understand that challenges shouldn't hinder their education.

·         know and understand the importance of reading and studying.

·         learn that hard work pays. 

·         understand the importance of believing in one's self.

·         understand the role of his/her parent as a guardian that can be trusted.

·         understand the undying love of a parent.

·         understand God's role in his/her life.

For Parents

I was touched by the role Dr. Ben Carson's mum played in his life. She wasn't educated, yet she aspired greatness for her kids. She knew her kids had to be better than her and she did all things possible to achieve that. She worked hard so as to earn enough money for the upkeep of the home and the education of her kids, she took time away to go get rid of the garbage in her emotions and mind, she also learnt how to read and she constantly encouraged her kids when most parents will discourage theirs'. What an outstanding mum.

In this movie parents will:

·         learn never to give up on their kids.

·         understand the roles they ought to play in the lives of their kids.

·         understand that they are examples for their children to emulate.

·         understand the sacrifices they have to make for the success of their kids.

·         know that it's never too late to get an education if it will encourage your kids.

·         guide their kids to discover their purpose in life

This movie is so inspiring for school students, for mothers, for any adult who has not had the self-discipline (myself) to do what is necessary to reach important goals. The message is "If Ben Carson could overcome all he overcame--I can do what I need to do." Now, he did have a few assets - a phenomenal mother; a core belief in God; a willingness to learn; an unusual amount of morality. He certainly deserves all the wonderful things that came into his later life. 

This movie may never win a Hollywood Oscar, but it is #1 on my list of family movie greats. Ben Carson, even with his skills with a surgeons knife, also knows failure, struggle, and life sorrow that comes from a human inability to control every aspect of living. But he never stops trying, and he gets support from some teachers, mom, brother, wife, classmates, and many others along the way. But in the end, it is one man's choice to do his very best, make his life "shine and sparkle" just like his mother did to floors while scrubbing and cleaning for others.