Born Without a Hand.
Bob Henley — a life that refused to be defined by what was missing. A mother's faith. A wife of fifty-six years. A son who didn't make it easy. The long, quiet arc of a man who never identified handicapped.
Bob was born in Butler, Missouri in 1944. Small town near Kansas City. His father was away at war when he arrived — and he was born without a right hand. His mother carried him through those first years, teaching him to tie his shoes and put on his clothes, never letting on that he was supposed to be different.
His first day of first grade, the other kids tripped him. By high school, his coordination and speed had made him a track athlete at Evangel College — where one night, during a sermon called "Parked at the Gates of Hell," he ran from one side of the chapel and his friend ran from the other. They met at the altar.
Bob met his wife Colleen at a church camp. They were married six weeks after their first date. That was fifty-six years ago. Their oldest son Jay was diagnosed with epilepsy at three years old, having sixty focal seizures a day. Bob's parents had taught him not to identify as handicapped. He raised his sons the same way. He sells life insurance. He believes there are two choices when life gets hard: quit, or put your faith in the Lord. He's not done yet.
“There should be nothing to make you feel abnormal.”
Bob Henley
Husband of fifty-six years. Father of two. Grandfather. Insurance man. Never identified as disabled. Not for one day.
Bob and Colleen have been married 56 years come August. Their two sons gave them two daughters-in-law, four granddaughters, and an adopted grandson. Bob still sells life insurance. He still goes to church. He still tells anyone who will listen — and people still listen — that there is nothing about your circumstances that should make you feel abnormal. Just go do the best you can. Have a life through the Lord.
📍 Springfield, Missouri
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