- The Washington Times - Friday, October 18, 2013

A shark attack survivor whose arm was torn off just below the shoulder, leaving her surfing career in question, nonetheless told a Christian college crowd this week: God is great and He doesn’t abandon his children.

“I look back on my life now,” said Bethany Hamilton, 23, who was 13 at the time of her shark attack, The Blaze reported, “and I am just in awe that God can take a little girl from a tiny island in Hawaii and use my story all over the world to reach so many people.”

She made the remarks at Liberty University’s Convocation in Lynchburg, Va.

Ms. Hamilton was surfing in Kauai in 2003, when a 14-foot shark attacked her. She lost her arm, as well as 60 percent of her blood, and had to relearn life skills. But she never gave up hope — or surfing. And in the last decade, she’s become an inspiration to many.

To the crowd at Liberty University, she touted her never-ending faith in Jesus and God’s ability to take life’s darkest moments and turn them into positives.

“As I grew up with one arm and relearned how to surf, God taught me that He can take the hard times that I went through and turn them into something beautiful,” she said, The Blaze reported. “I think that He can do that for each and every one of you. He can take what you have been through and use it for good if you are willing to share what He has done for you.”


PHOTOS: What are the chances?


 

 

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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