It’s been 58 years of Joni in a wheelchair! Celebrate this milestone with her by taking a look at her newest children’s book called “A Paintbrush for Joni.” Find out more at www.joniradio.org.
Read Joni's newest children's book "A Paintbrush for Joni" here along with a fun video seeing the inspiration behind it!
SHAUNA: Hi this is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Joni, you have hit another milestone. I mean it was 58 years ago on this very day back in 1967 where you took that awful dive. You broke your neck.
JONI: Yup.
SHAUNA: And embarked on a lifetime of paralysis.
JONI: Oh, Shauna, that’s so true. And now, 58 years later – well, what many of you listeners do. I look back and I’m astounded at the grace of God that saw me through the worst of times, right? I’m sure you know what I mean. I just love thinking back to the first few years of my journey of quadriplegia and now being able to see what God was up to. God’s grace was there when I wanted to kill myself. His grace was there when I was way too weak, too sick to even sit up in a wheelchair. God’s grace was there. It carried me through that painful season when all my friends either got married or went off to college, or got jobs, or moved out of state.
This is the way I like to celebrate the annual anniversary of breaking my neck. And you should try it [no, no, no, not the broken neck part]! But you would benefit greatly by remembering the deeds of the Lord, the grace he’s given you in years past when you suffered through a hard season of life. Psalm 77 says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Now, his mighty deeds and miracles – sure would’ve included much more than the parting of the Red Sea, or the crumbling the walls of Jericho, or making the sun stand still for Joshua. For you, God’s mighty deeds might include that long season of depression that he brought you up and out of, or how he saved you from a dangerous and destructive relationship, or how he brought home your wayward prodigal child. It is so invigorating to your soul, so helpful to your faith when you look back on the reservoir of grace that was miraculously given here, there, and everywhere in years past.
Something else I like to celebrate on this 58th anniversary of my accident is how God turned it into a story. His story lived out, in, and through this wheelchair. Whether that story was a movie, or a book, the Joni book, or maybe the time I spoke at a Billy Graham Crusade. Or maybe like the story of how I paint, holding brushes between my teeth. And on this anniversary, I am celebrating that part of my story. In fact, Joni and Friends produced a children’s book about my accident and how I broke my neck, and how God has used it for his good. It’s a great way to introduce my journey to middle-grade readers. It’s beautifully illustrated and I believe it’ll have a very positive impact on children reading about my life and ministry for the first time.
This precious little book is called “A Paintbrush for Joni” and you can find out more about it at joniradio.org. One parent I know is hoping to use this book to help her child understand how to handle disappointments, and how to trust God when things don’t go her way, and how he works everything together for her good. And that is a great way to use this wonderful new book called “A Paintbrush for Joni.”
SHAUNA: It sure is Joni. So, friend, join the celebration of Joni’s 58th year of life in a wheelchair!
JONI: Woohoo!
SHAUNA: And pass on that joy to the children in your life that you love and care for. Read it to your grandchild or show them the illustrations. Again, it’s called “A Paintbrush For Joni” and visit joniradio.org to for all the details.
© Joni and Friends