An Unforgettable Day
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada celebrating an amazing anniversary.
Because it was 52 years ago today that I took that dive into shallow water. (Gasps) 52 years, wow! Never, ever did I think I would live this long, or this well. Okay, sure, I’m still battling a reoccurrence of cancer and, yes, I was in the hospital with lung problems, but, hey, I’m sitting up in a wheelchair, giving my full energy to helping people with disabilities come to know Jesus, and, hey, I’m talking to you! And, basically, I’m out-living all the statistics, and having a great time with the limited abilities that I have as a quad. But that’s okay.
Okay, speaking of limited abilities, especially as I look back on this anniversary, I gotta tell you something God used in the hospital to really stretch those limitations. You see, I’d been paralyzed for a few months and, understandably, I was getting tired, bored of being in the hospital. And so on Wednesday evenings when my high school girlfriend, Diana, would come to visit, she would always take me to Wednesday night bingo. Now, I was on a Stryker frame, and in the evening, they’d always turn me facedown for the night. But that didn’t bother Diana; the Stryker frame had wheels and so she’d push me to the recreational room and park me near the front where the bingo caller was. Diana made certain to bring my mouth stick. And when I asked her, “Why are you bringing that thing?” She replied, “Well, I’m not gonna push your pennies around the bingo board?! You can do that for yourself with your mouth stick.” I heaved a sigh, like, come on, give me a break, this isn’t occupational therapy. This is supposed to be fun. Help me.
But you know what? Diana made it fun. The caller would yell N-15, and Diana would shove a penny under my face, and I would press it with the eraser tip of my mouth stick, and I’d drag it over N-15 in time before the next number. And usually I was able to make it (uh, probably because the caller gave all the old people extra time). But it was all the time I needed to push my penny into place. And whenever I did get a penny in its proper box with my mouth stick, Diana and I would cheer! I’m sure people looked around wondering why the paralyzed girl with her friend were having so much fun. But actually, Diana was stretching my abilities. God was using her to teach me to ignore my limitations, and not depend so much on her for help, but make every effort to do things for myself.
Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” For years, Diana was that friend, and on this anniversary of my accident, I celebrate friends like her. I celebrate my family – people who helped me persevere; who helped me to not look inward or to pity myself, but to always look outward and to trust God with every change.
I posted a special video today at joniradio.org in which I share some – well, I think they’re poignant reflections about that diving accident – and I’d so love for you to watch it. Just go to joniradio.org and maybe share it with a friend. And, finally, do you have a loved one who sticks closer to you than others do? Then celebrate that friend today. Celebrate anybody, anyone, who encourages you to look beyond yourself, or your sad situation, or your hard confinements. Take delight in that Christian sister or brother who keeps challenging you to fight the good fight, keep the faith, and finish the race to honor Christ no matter what your circumstances. And, oh, and don’t forget to check out my anniversary video today at joniradio.org. That’s a different link to my radio page than you usually hear me say; but, it’s a lot easier. Joniradio.org. And God bless you today, and thanks for listening to Joni and Friends.
© Joni and Friends
An Unforgettable Story
52 years ago, tomorrow, I took a reckless dive into shallow water – it was a fateful dive that completely altered my life. At first, when doctors told me I would be a quadriplegic, I sank into a deep depression…
