The social bridge in your local community shouldn’t just be a dog – it should be you too.
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SHAUNA: Hi, this is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Do you love dogs? Well, today is Assistance Dog Day and you’ve got to hear all about our friend Amanda’s dog!
JONI: No doubt about it. God created dogs to not only be our companions, but to serve us, and help us and, yep, even make a difference in our lives. And I see it all the time when it comes to service dogs. Like a three-year-old black Labrador Retriever named Wren – he helps my friend, Amanda, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. Amanda will be the first to tell you that it can be hard to make real friends. People tend to walk wide circles around her wheelchair and her cerebral palsy. But, oh, this woman has the best smile, the biggest heart, the greatest attitude, even as she deals with chronic pain. And for those reasons, Amanda inspires me. She and I have been friends for a long time; but, for her, it’s still hard getting to know people. Actually, it’s hard getting them to know her.
But that’s where her Labrador Retriever comes in. Wren is a certified canine companion; he’s well-trained to help Amanda with all sorts of activities. Get this, he can open and close doors; he can pick things off the floor when Amanda drops them. Amanda uses an electric lift in her building, and when she wants to get on it, she’ll tell Wren, “Tug.” And then he tugs on a rope hanging on the door handle. And after the door is open, Amanda then carefully backs her wheelchair into the lift, and then she says to Wren, “Elevator.” And that’s when this dog grabs with his teeth, the rope hanging on the inside door handle. Now, picture this once he’s got the rope in his teeth, he slowly backs into the lift, closing the door; then he drops the rope, and he sits and he waits by Amanda for his next command. Amanda can operate the lift on her own; she can go up and down stairs independently – all because of her dog Wren.
But there is a bigger service that Wren provides. Amanda calls him her “social bridge.” She told me that when she is out, people will come up to her – something they would never do were it not for her adorable Labrador Retriever – and then they’ll ask her all about Wren – where’d you get him? What does he do? How long have you had him? And before you know it, barriers disappear and a real conversation – a relationship gets started. People who don’t know a thing about disability discover that Amanda is very approachable and that, as she puts it, “They don’t need to be afraid of me and my disability or my wheelchair.” Wow.
Job 12 says, “Ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds and they will tell you…let the fish inform you.” According to Job, animals can teach, tell and inform. They can even serve, like this black lab does for Amanda. And the best part – Wren gains great pleasure; he’s happy; he enjoys his purpose of serving Amanda. God is teaching us that we should experience even more pleasure when we serve those in need. Oh, friend, in your community, right in your town, there are young people just like Amanda – and older ones, too – who need a social bridge. And it should not be just a dog. It should be you.
SHAUNA: Listening friend, please, find a way to serve people with disabilities – people like Amanda and like my daughter, Sarah. Start with saying hello or complimenting their outfit. Spark up a conversation from there. You’ll no doubt put a smile on someone’s face, and I promise you your new friendship will warm your heart too. Plus, sharing this type of hospitality will make Jesus smile. If you’re looking for more ideas, we’ve got lots of them at joniradio.org. So, visit us today and prepare your heart for service. Remember, it’s joniradio.org, and thanks for listening!
© Joni and Friends