I was five years old, looking up at a diving board that seemed to get higher every time I went to swimming lessons.
To pass the class, we had to jump from the high dive. When the instructor asked who wanted to go first, nobody volunteered.
Eventually, I raised my hand.
My one hand.
That moment is one of the childhood adventures in my new book, The Gift of the Empty Sleeve. It brings readers into the laughs, questions, challenges, and discoveries of a little boy learning what it means to be himself. That little boy was me.
A little courage, one step at a time
I was born without a left hand. Growing up, I had to figure out how to do things other children often took for granted: riding a bicycle, tying my shoes, or finding my own way to catch and throw a baseball.
Some things took practice. Some took help. Some took another attempt after I was sure I couldn’t do it.
On that high-dive ladder, I paused and looked down. It was a long way to the ground.
“Keep climbing, Darin. You’re doing great,” my teacher called.
I kept climbing. Looking back, I’m grateful for the people who encouraged me through those moments. My parents, grandparents, and teachers helped me believe there was a way forward, even when I couldn’t see it yet.
A child can carry words like that for a lifetime.
Learning that I belonged
There were harder moments, too.
I knew what it felt like to be stared at, misunderstood, and left out. When other children decided I couldn’t play because I had only one hand, their rejection hurt.
My fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Jenkins, noticed.
He helped our class see that every child was different and that every child had something to offer. He spoke about my heart, my smile, and my sense of humor. He reminded my classmates that I had feelings just like they did.
My parents had always believed in me. Hearing my teacher speak up for me in front of everyone helped me see myself in a new way.
That experience stayed with me. So did the friendships that followed—the baseball games, the horseback rides, and the house full of boys laughing and eating everything in sight.
Children need people who notice when they are hurting. They also need opportunities to discover the joy of being included.
Discovering purpose in what makes us unique
For years, I asked God why I had been born with one hand.
Over time, I began to trust Him with that question. Through my family, my faith, and the experiences of growing up, I came to understand that I was fearfully and wonderfully made.
There was purpose in my life, including the parts I didn’t fully understand.
The Gift of the Empty Sleeve shares that journey through illustrated childhood stories. There are adventures, mishaps, moments of courage, and plenty of opportunities to laugh along with me.
The book also includes “Do Something” prompts that invite young readers to talk with a parent or trusted adult. Those conversations explore facing fears, accepting others, asking for help, and encouraging someone who feels left out.
My hope is that this book gives families a meaningful way to have those conversations.
A child reading it may recognize a fear or a question they have never quite known how to explain. Another may begin to notice the classmate who needs a friend. A parent or teacher may find an opening to say something a child needs to hear.
You matter. You belong. God made you with purpose.
An invitation to share the story
I’m excited to share The Gift of the Empty Sleeve with you and the young readers in your life.
If you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or someone who works with children, I invite you to take a look. And if a particular child or family comes to mind as you read this, please share the book page with them.
Learn more about The Gift of the Empty Sleeve.
Please subscribe to my email list on the page, and I will keep you updated on when the book is coming out and some special offers I am making available when it launches.
Thank you for helping me share a story that has been part of my life for a very long time.
—Darin