The patent for the artificial leg was granted to Dr. Benjamin Franklin Palmer in 1846.

Dr. Benjamin Franklin Palmer had lost a leg in an accident. Determined not to let this tragedy hinder him from living a full life, Palmer looked for solutions. Failing to find any type of device that would help him walk as normally as possible, Palmer did the next best thing—he invented an artificial leg.

Palmer’s design included springs and hidden joints that gave the appearance of natural movement. For his efforts Palmer received an award at the first World’s Fair at the Crystal Palace in London in 1851.

Palmer’s response to his situation was different from the man in the Bible who spent his days lying by the pool of Bethesda. You can read about him in John 5:1-14. Although the man had been lying there for 38 years, no one was able to help him . . . until Jesus came upon the scene.

Jesus took one look at the man and asked him, “Would you like to get well?” The man replied, “I can’t, sir.” Then after the man had explained all the problems he faced, Jesus simply told him, “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat and walk.” And the man did so.

We have a choice when facing difficult and hopeless situations. We can give up, feeling hopeless and trapped like the man at the pool before he met Jesus. Or we can respond like Palmer and look for solutions to our problems. A positive attitude is necessary to overcome obstacles.

Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!” (John 5:8).

To Do

What difficulty are you facing today? How would you describe your attitude in this situation? What could you do to take that first step toward a solution?

Also on this day

Today is National Candy Day.

1922—In Egypt, Howard Carter discovered the way into the lost tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen.

1965—Lee Ann Roberts Breedlove became the first woman to exceed 300 mph in a jet-powered car.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.