I have learned that people are often upset about what they don't have, so they waste what they do have. Ken Keyes said, "To be upset over what you don't have is to waste what you do have."

When I was born there were some things that I didn't have. I couldn't breathe on my own and had to have a tracheotomy. I couldn't hear as my ear canals were blocked. I was also born without thumbs. None of these disabilities have stopped me from being thankful for the things I do have.

I was born with Nager's Syndrome (Also called Nager's Miller Syndrome). The symptoms are an underdeveloped jaw which means the tongue blocks the airway, short arms, absence of thumbs, and narrow ear canals to list a few of the issues. I am 15 years old and I still have my trache, even though I have had six jaw expansion surgeries.

It was hard for people to understand me when I talked. (I also have a cleft palate.). I could have let this upset me and just not talked, but I wanted to talk to people. A lot of times I had to say things more than once or explain things, but I never stopped talking.

Then, when I was in 6th grade I got a cap for my trache. I tell people I was like a turtle coming out of its shell! Now people understood me and I was less shy about talking.

I didn't have a normal voice, but I sure was glad to have the voice I did. I have never wasted my voice!

I wear a hearing aid to help me hear better. Rather than being upset about not hearing, I am thankful for the hearing I do have. My ear canals are so narrow I can't wear a regular hearing aid, but I have a special device that goes on my head and behind my ear.

Hearing specialists have provided me with what I need to be able to hear. I still can't tell what direction the sound is coming from but I still guess. Most of the time I'm right, but sometimes I'm wrong.

My biggest challenge is being born without thumbs. The hardest thing has been learning to tie my shoes. My short arms have fused elbows which make some tasks difficult like reaching for high objects or holding on to things.

When I talked to my church youth group they asked me if I always wanted to have thumbs and I said " no, because if I did I wouldn't know how to use them...I've already adapted." I'm thankful for how God created me.

If I had spent my life being upset over what I don't have, my life wouldn't be useful. I don't want to waste a single day or ability that I do have. I will continue to work on challenges and get stronger every day.

Jeffrey William (Will) Johnson November, 2012