Thanks For Telling Her “No”
by
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Playing T-Ball at the age of five became another example of her determination. She played on a team made up of boys and girls. She loved it. Since she couldn’t really explain what she was seeing or doing, I am going to share with you what I saw and felt each time she batted. Walk carefully to the batter’s box. Please do not fall. Help umpire set up tee to right height and ask him to place ball on tee. Look out at team in the outfield, turn head slightly to the left to focus. Look down at ball on tee, focus on ball. Lift bat up to shoulder, focus on outfield one more time. Look at ball on tee, hold head straight down to see ball. Swing bat, connect! Put bat down and run as straight as possible to first base. Please don’t let her fall. Then same thoughts as she ran from base to base. Please see the base. Run straight; don’t trip. She loved playing T-ball. I could see her precious smile as she stopped on each base. I did make sure they put her far enough in the outfield to not encounter a ball moving in the air toward her. Her teammates cheered her on. She was able to play one year of T-ball, just like her sisters! On a side note, I remember once when she accidentally threw a bat at the umpire’s shins. He was very gracious in his pain.
In addition to school and recreation, Shelbi was blessed with special opportunities to travel. Her oldest sister, Ashley, attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Manhattan, New York. On Shelbi’s seventh birthday, we took her to see her sister. This was a wonderful experience. It was about five degrees outside, and she got recognized on the TODAY Show. The most memorable part of the trip was her hair catching fire. We were all in Ashley’s tiny apartment, singing “Happy Birthday”! Our attention was focused on singing and taking pictures, when she bent over to blow out the candles, and her pigtail fell into the flame. It was quickly extinguished, and no one was harmed!
I have one other quick story about New York. During one of our visits, we rented a car and drove to Niagara Falls. As we were going through the checkpoint to drive to the Canadian side, one of the guards leaned in and asked Shelbi if her dad knew she was leaving the country with her mom. She said, “No, I don’t think he knows where I am”! I had to do a little explaining. Whew! We made it back safely.
We were involved in many mission trips, including the Indian reservation in New Mexico, a racetrack in Ruidoso, and the island of San Andrés, Colombia. Each of these trips was filled with adventure, pain, love, and special relationship building with others. Reaching others for Christ is very important to Shelbi, and people are automatically drawn to her. These trips included teaching Bible school, visiting women in prison, walking the streets of foreign countries, and meeting people who have the same love for Christ. God walked beside Shelbi and kept her upright. He gave her courage to speak about Him and to show love to others.
Shelbi’s View
“I loved going on mission trips. One of my best friendships was formed at the racetracks of Ruidoso, New Mexico. The children were all precious. It was a privilege to get to teach and play with each of them. I am so glad my friends received Christ as their Savior. My relationship with Christ is number one in my life, and I want all my friends to know Him, too. Mom and I traveled a lot. She made sure I tried everything I wanted to, and some things I did not. I was always scared of climbing mountains because of my balance. Mom would push me to go ahead and give it a try. I was so glad after I made it up the mountain, even though many times on the journey up, I whined to my mom. I am glad now that she took me with her on all those trips.”
My Shepherd became the name for God as He began to reveal Himself as her shepherd. He was showing her how to trust Him no matter what. The years that followed were going to test this trust. As I look back now, I realize each lesson learned in her early years was preparing us for the next chapter. If I had to do it all over, I would have paid more attention and enjoyed the blessings we received. The doctors told us this was a slow, progressive disease. She would most likely be using a walker and would then need a wheelchair in the next ten or so years. I knew that time was crucial. I did not want Shelbi to miss out on doing everything she possibly could while she was still walking.
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About the Book
Shelbi was born with a rare disease that causes her to struggle in a world with little acceptance for those who are different. She was told “no” far too often and bullied, shunned, and mistreated. She was made to feel less than but still knew she could do what was being denied because despite mistreatment, she was also loved, adored, and supported.
Thanks for Telling Her “No” follows the first twenty-six years of Shelbi’s life. Written through the eyes of her mom, you will feel the inner groans of a mother raising a child deemed “different.” Her mom devotes her life to seeing that Shelbi accomplishes what she wants to accomplish. No matter how high, how low, how crowded, or how bumpy, they find a way to keep going and make it through.
Their story is written in chronological order with each chapter building on the last. The chapter titles are different names for God, signifying how He guided them through each trial and victory. The conclusion is proof that it takes a village to raise a child—but also faith. Have you ever been told “no” about something you thought you could do? Never let words keep you from being all you can be. Prepare to laugh, cry, and maybe get angry but ultimately rejoice!
About the Author
Ruth Davenport is a Texas A&M University graduate who spent thirty-two years as a teacher and principal in her hometown. She is married and has three beautiful daughters, a son-in-law, and five wonderful grandchildren. She is retired but continues to work and support Shelbi in all her endeavors, while balancing life as a Grammy, wife, and mom.