Your Father in Heaven delights over you! He loves providing for your needs.
Watch Arnoldo and Marcela's story here: https://youtu.be/wv9W9uSRzro
There’s nothing quite like a Daddy’s love for his daughter.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and I know you’d agree. Fathers love doing everything they can to delight their little girls. And I’ve seen it firsthand even among fathers in impoverished nations. I’m thinking of Arnoldo who lives in El Salvador and his daughter, Marcela, who was born with cerebral palsy. Marcela also suffered cardiorespiratory arrest at birth which left her with brain damage. Now, in some developing nations, a disability that severe is excuse enough for most fathers to abandon their children. But not Arnoldo. He does everything he can to bring joy into Marcela’s life. This dad has always wanted the best for his disabled little girl, and that meant finding a new and more suitable wheelchair for her. Marcela had outgrown her first wheelchair to the point that it was dangerous to use. Her spastic movements often released the brakes and she’d fall out of her chair which she had grown out of. Arnoldo knew there had to be something better. But in El Salvador, a new, sturdy wheelchair with side supports, adjustable foot pedals, and a headrest, and a chest harness, well, it was just beyond Arnoldo’s means.
But then, he heard Wheels for the World was coming to town. And so, he got up early, helped dress Marcela, and carried her to our distribution site. During his interview with our Wheels team, Arnoldo told us: “[You know,] It’s [so] sad because oftentimes we’re looked at with pity, but I consider Marcela a blessing – not to be pitied. My dream is that God would give me strength to be with her each day and make her days a joy!” Well, looking at Marcela, we knew that it would make her day if we could provide for her the perfect wheelchair. And, thank the Lord, we were able to fit Marcela with a chair that fit her to a T. And it was strong enough to secure her from falling out when her muscles would spasm. Arnoldo was delighted! That day, he experienced every father’s dream: he got her a wheelchair that brought the biggest smile to her face. But that’s not all. Marcela’s and Arnoldo’s smiles really brightened when they heard the Gospel and received Jesus as Savior. Arnoldo told us, near tears, “[I’m so] grateful to everyone who made this possible! I have experienced the closeness of Jesus!” By the way, 278 other disabled people also received wheelchairs that day; plus 519 people heard the Gospel, and 150 souls were rescued into the kingdom of Christ. Now there’s something that’ll bring a smile!
I’d just love for you to see a wonderful video of Arnoldo and Marcela. So go to joniradio.org for the link. You will be so blessed seeing the love that this dad has for his child. And one more thing. Just remember that your heavenly father delights over you, his child. Listen to this passage in Zephaniah 3, it says: “The Lord your God is with you… he will take great delight in you… [he will] rejoice over you with singing.” They tell me that that phrase “rejoice over you” literally means to “dance, skip, leap, and spin around in joy.” What a picture! God loves providing for your needs. And his joy is exuberant when you respond with praise and thanksgiving. He loves it when your heart is simply grateful. Grateful like the heart of Arnoldo! So, hey, take a minute and be blessed by this video of this precious dad and his daughter down in El Salvador. Just go to joniradio.org and be encouraged. God is doing great things through your prayers for Wheels for the World.
© Joni and Friends