Tune in to hear a touching story about a mother and her son’s old wheelchair. God always has a plan and purpose for everything. Giving the gift of something as simple as a wheelchair and the gospel of Jesus Christ can truly change a child’s life.
Tune in to hear a touching story about a mother and her son’s old wheelchair. God always has a plan and purpose for everything. Giving the gift of something as simple as a wheelchair and the gospel of Jesus Christ can truly change a child’s life.
This Christmas, you can give the Perfect Gift!
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a story that keeps on giving.
And it starts with a 22-year-old young man named Kekoa, which in Hawaiian means “Courageous Warrior.” Kekoa had cerebral palsy, couldn’t use his arms or legs, could not speak. But this courageous warrior had the brightest, biggest smile. Some time ago, though, Kekoa said goodbye to his hardships. He changed his address from Hawaii to Heaven and went to live with Jesus. It was really hard on his mother. Her name is Joy and when she would walk into her son’s room, she groaned every time she saw his big, empty wheelchair. That chair had always made Kekoa’s life easier. And so, an idea began to grow in Joy’s heart. Actually, it was a dream. A big dream!
Because Joy knew all about our Wheels for the World outreaches through which we distribute wheelchairs and Bibles. And so, she decided she wanted to give Kekoa’s wheelchair to another disabled person in need. It would be a way of carrying her son’s legacy of smiles into the future. When Joy arrived at our Joni and Friends headquarters, she gave the empty wheelchair a hug and said, “If one person can come to know Christ because of this wheelchair, then Kekoa’s life will have had an eternal impact for glory.” While Joy was at our office, her dream got even bigger. She expressed a wish to travel with Kekoa’s wheelchair on a Wheels for the World trip. She had been praying about who might receive his chair, and she longed to meet that special individual. So, fast-forward a few months later and Joy found herself on our Wheels team heading to the Philippines. She watched as we set up the wheelchairs and Bibles for distribution and she wondered what young man might sit in Kekoa’s chair!
As the day got long, finally a young woman named Nicole arrived with her family. Like Kekoa, she had severe cerebral palsy and could not speak. But, oh, did she smile. When we placed Nicole in Kekoa’s wheelchair, it was a perfect fit. Plus, joy was touched to see that Nicole was the exact same size as her son, and had the same disability, and had the same bright, beautiful smile. The courageous warrior’s wheelchair now had a new lease on another’s life. By the way, Nicole’s mother told us that her family of six basically live in one dark room. And she explained that Nicole is too big to carry, and she can’t take her daughter outside. But with a new wheelchair, Nicole can now enjoy life beyond that small room! What’s more, Nicole and her family heard about Christ for the first time and received him into their hearts.
The Bible says that giving a gift opens doors. And through providing her a wheelchair, Nicole received the perfect gift – a Savior named Jesus. And isn’t that what we all celebrate this glorious season? And friend if you are hunting high and low this season for the perfect gift, go no further. Because I think it’s as simple as a wheelchair and a Bible for a child who struggles under the weight of disability. So, join Ken and me as we give the perfect gift to people like Nicole. For all the details on how you can give along with us, visit joniradio.org. And while you’re there, you simply must, you have to see, this great video along with photos we’ve posted of Kekoa, his mother, Nicole and more – you’ll love their smiles. So help us spread more smiles by giving the perfect gift at joniradio.org. Again, find out more about the perfect gift at joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends