A Grand Teton Christmas
When I’m at my art easel, I love drawing memories.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and many of my paintings and drawings are inspired by the best of memories. Like, when I was, oh, I don’t know, about 19 years old and just out of the hospital, newly injured. Back then when I was trying to adjust to my wheelchair, my family decided that we all needed a break. We felt we had to hit the reset button, and so we rented an RV and took several weeks to do nothing but tour the West. The last two years had seen the death of my grandmother, the death of my 5-year-old niece, and, of course, my broken neck. And with so much grief and loss in our family in such a short time, my parents felt that we all needed a “change of scenery,” as it were. So, in the summer of 1969, we headed out West in a rented RV.
Somewhere outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, we pulled into a roadside scenic vista to eat our bag lunch. And when my sister man-handled me down the steps of that RV to enjoy the fresh air, I sat in my wheelchair on the edge of the parking lot, and I gazed out over the most glorious vista. There before me spread the most beautiful mountain meadow I’d ever seen and rising above it was the breathtaking Grand Teton Range with its jagged peaks. Coming from the East Coast, I was stunned sitting there; I felt my heart fill with wonder at the majesty of God. You created such awe-inspiring beauty; Jesus, you’re amazing! I tried my best, I did, to take as many mental snap shots as I could, because I knew that when I got home, I would want to sit at my art easel to capture the splendor of that part of the Rockies. My parents were right. Our family did hit the reset button, and we drove home so much more refreshed, renewed. And back on the farm, with the scene still fresh in my memory, I grasped a felt-tip pen between my teeth, and I replicated as best I could a pen and ink sketch of the Grand Tetons. I was still rather new at drawing with my mouth – the line quality was a bit shaky. But I was pleased – I really was – with the final rendering. That was way back in the 70s.
It would be years before I would actually paint with colorful oils, but this precious sketch, this rendered so early in my art career, it represents a spiritual milestone in my life with Jesus. After my encounter with the Grand Tetons, I felt as though my heart had been stretched deeper and wider for the Lord; I felt my soul get so roomy, it was as though I could fit the entire mountain range right into my heart. What a glorious experience it was, drawing that scene with the pen between my teeth. And I want you to see it! Today on joniradio.org, I’ve posted this precious sketch which – guess what? – Joni and Friends has designed into this year’s Christmas card.
It’s a beautiful card to send this Christmas, and I’d love for you to see it. And I love the greeting on the inside; it says: “It’s Christmas, happiest day that’s ever been, the day God chose to save and love and lift; Oh, friends, be filled with gratitude within for God the Giver and for Jesus, the Gift!” Yes, Jesus who made the beautiful Teton range in the Rockies. We truly can celebrate his birth every day, can’t we?! So be blessed, be inspired and get encouraged when you visit joniradio.org today, and see my new Christmas card birthed out of a beautiful memory from long ago. And don’t forget, enjoy that lovely sketch and learn more about my Christmas card today at joniradio.org. I just love sharing hope through every one of your hardships.
And one more thing – we here at Joni and Friends would love to pray for you in your troubles. So share with us your prayer need today at joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends
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