Tune in to hear Joni share a touching story about one remarkable mother!
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With Mother’s Day coming up, I’ve got to tell you about a remarkable mom.
Oh, life is hard, very hard when you are a mother, trying her best to raise two young teenagers, one of whom has multiple disabilities. I’m describing my friend Jennifer. She and her husband Brian were so excited [as any new parents would be] when their first son Roa was born. But over time, he just wasn’t developing as a typical baby. Finally, when he had his first birthday, Roa [that little boy] was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy and other complications. The neurologist was kind but straight forward. He told Jennifer and Brian, “Roa will never walk, and he’ll never talk. He’ll never hold a pencil and he most likely won’t even be able to use a wheelchair.”
This was devastating to Jennifer. From then on out, it was one medical appointment after the next, countless procedures, multiple therapies, sleep specialists, and more. There was never time for a break. No time to relax. Jennifer felt such resentment and questioned God. She even fell away from the church for a time. And oh, were Jennifer and Brian exhausted. Their son Roa not only had cerebral palsy, he had a serious sleep disorder. Jennifer just could not understand what God was doing; surely his plan was wrong. Her faith was dwindling fast because she was so very tired.
Roa, in the meantime; Roa began to gain skills his family never expected. He could learn to drive a power wheelchair and as the years went by, he started using an eye-gaze device to communicate. And by that time, Jennifer and Brian had another son they named Gunnar. Although Gunnar was typical like most kids, family life was still fast paced and chaotic. But then, someone invited Jennifer and Brian and their children to Family Retreat. And when they arrived, that first day, they felt embraced, supported, loved on, cared for. And right away, they made friends with other families dealing with disabilities that were even tougher than Roa’s. The women’s breakout session for Jennifer, and the one for Brian and the men were absolutely eye-opening. Never had they felt so connected and accepted. And before they knew it, Jennifer and her husband were caught up in the daily times of worship and prayer. And apart from all the fun activities, there was time to just go back to the cabin and sleep. To lie there, knowing that volunteers were having fun with Roa and Gunnar, and that her husband was enjoying the guys. For Jennifer, it was life changing. And when the family returned home, they decided to go back to church and join one that was closely connected to Joni and Friends.
When the church youth ministry started talking about baptism, Roa said through his communication device, “I want! God is big King. Yes, Jesus!” His baptism at the front of the church touched everyone! Especially Jennifer, who could not stop crying. She said, “I’ve had my ups and downs with the Lord. But Roa is [the one who is] spot on. And my son with multiple disabilities has led me to know Jesus.” That makes that disabled young man a picture ofIsaiah 11: “A little child shall lead them.” And Roa, with his cerebral palsy certainly led Jennifer, his mother back to Christ. And I have a feeling that this Mother’s Day, it’s going to be a celebration like none other. Happy Mother’s Day, dear Jennifer! And all other special-needs moms like her!
© Joni and Friends