Bethany Meilani
Bethany Meilani Hamilton-Dirks (born February 8, 1990) is an American professional surfer who survived a shark attack in which her left arm was bitten off and eaten but who ultimately returned to professional surfing. She wrote about her experience in the autobiography Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. In April 2011, the feature film Soul Surfer was released, showing her life as a surfer after a horrific shark attack and her recovery, and how God helped her get over her handicap.
Quotes:
“Whatever your situation might be, set your mind to whatever you want to do and put a good attitude in it, and I believe that you can succeed.”
“I don’t need easy, I just need possible.”
“So maybe someone listening will be inspired to pick up a Bible or go to church and their lives will be better and richer as a result.”
“Here’s my advice: don’t put all your hope and faith into something that could suddenly and easily disappear. And honestly, that’s almost anything. The only thing that will never go away, that will never fail you, is your faith in God.”
“I’ve learned life is a lot like surfing. When you get caught in the impact zone,you need to get right back up, because you never know what’s over the next wave… and if you have faith, anything is possible, anything at all.”
“Surfing isn’t the most important thing in life. Love is. I’ve had the chance to embrace more people with one arm than Ii ever could with two.”
“Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.”
“God has a lot more to give and to offer than the world has to give.”
“The way I see it, putting your faith in God is something that each person has gotta come to on his or her own. It’s your own personal relationship with Him; a bond that’s as unique as a fingerprint.”
“I don’t really want people looking to me for inspiration. I just want to be a sign along the way that points toward Heaven.”
“I think that if I can help other people find hope in God then that is worth losing my arm for.”
By Marise Akoury
