Imagine you have a child that's obsessed with playing sports.

I know, not a big stretch for many who read this blog!

But did you ever ask yourself WHY they are so into athletics?

For Mike and Kathy Abbott, the answer was quite simple.

Their son simply felt more accepted as part of a team, of working together towards a common goal with peers who treated him as an equal.

Because, having been born with only one hand, it was the only time he didn't feel like an outsider.

If his shoe came untied during elementary school recess, he'd need a friend's help to fix it.

Throughout his childhood, feeling ashamed of his condition, he'd hide his right arm in his pocket.

Yet once he stepped onto the playing field, he was just another kid who craved a good challenge.

How can I, as a baseball player, both throw and catch with just one hand?

How do I swing a bat? How do I, as a football quarterback, receive a snap without fumbling?

Mike and Kathy's son Jim fed off challenges like these.

It's what helped him become comfortable in his own skin.

It also instilled habits that fueled an unbelievable rise to success.

In high school Jim not only quarterbacked his football team, he threw 4 touchdown passes in a league championship game.

He was a better baseball pitcher, though, so good that he earned a scholarship to the University of Michigan.

If Jim's story ended there it'd be an inspiration, but there was so much more.

His college career went so well that the Los Angeles Angels drafted him as the 8th overall pick in 1988.

Abbott made the majors at just 21 years old, quickly became one of the best pitchers in the game, and threw a no hitter in his fifth pro season.

Not surprisingly, Jim became a source of inspiration for disabled kids across America, many of which had a condition just like his.

They had the same insecurities, the same struggles, the same fears.

Abbott met with families on just about every road trip over his ten year career.

He answered countless letters, always sharing a message of hope, of the power of hard work.

Wisdom he acquired through overcoming incredible challenges in his early years, a time where sports participation helped him grow immensely.

Years after his retirement, Jim Abbott was speaking at his daughter's elementary school.

When Q&A time came around, his little girl raised her hand and asked him,"Dad, do you like your little hand?"

At first caught off guard, he gathered himself and replied,

"You know what, honey? I have to tell you that I do.

I like my little hand. I haven't always liked it, at times I hated it.

But it's who I am, it's taught me important lessons.

It's taught me that life's not easy, and it's not always fair.

It's taught me that sometimes we may have to do things differently, but you can still do them just as well as anybody else."

When you're watching your son or daughter's games this week, take a minute to think about why, exactly, they truly love playing their sport.

I doubt it's for anything superficial, like a trophy or a championship.

Their physical situation may not be anything like Abbott's, but their motivations likely are.

They're out there seeking acceptance from peers.

To become comfortable with who they are.

And they're fueled by challenges that are right on the edge of their current ability levels.

There's setbacks along the way, which teaches perseverance.

There's seemingly impossible tasks, which teaches resourcefulness.

And through it all, they discover their true talents, which could take them far beyond what anyone else thinks they can achieve.