Tuesday, July 6th Update from Joni

Tuesday, July 6th Update:

The precious hours I was strong enough to sit up over the holiday weekend were almost all spent in our backyard, enjoying the breezes and blue sky. Ice packs, helping me drink lots of water, and keeping my arm elevated were Kathy’s responsibility, while Ken helped set up the portable keyboard that our friends, the Sanders, brought along for their Sunday visit (Al, Margaret, Peg and Jim head up Ambassador Agency, producers of the “Joni and Friends” radio program for nearly 30 years). After a scrumptious picnic lunch, it was an afternoon of singing hymns and celebrating the grace and sovereignty of God. Want to sing along? Click on this video and join us on “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken!”

Singing, for me, has become a prescription for healing. And not just harmonizing with friends or singing ‘in my head’ in the middle of the night — late in the day on Monday, Ken and I remarked that the backyard birds have never sounded sweeter. I wondered if they might be messengers of Zephaniah 3:17 for “[The Lord] will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Funny how a thing like cancer can make you treasure every snippet of God’s smallest blessings :-).

Each day I’m able to sit up a bit longer and manage my blood pressure better (quadriplegics like me normally have very low blood pressure). I continue to heal well; nevertheless, be vigilant in praying that no infection gets a toehold. (And while you’re at the Throne, join me in praying for our 3 upcoming Joni and Friends’ Family Retreats to be held this month, two in California, one in Tennessee… ask God to touch the hearts of first-time families with the love and power of Jesus Christ).

–Joni Eareckson Tada