Tune in to hear Joni interview her great friend and colleague, Steve Bundy.
Take a look at Steve Bundy’s book: “Another Kind of Courage” here!
SHAUNA: I’m Shauna, with Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Thank you for joining us!
JONI: Hey, Father’s Day is coming up! And while I miss my own daddy, today I want to welcome another good dad who happens to be Senior Vice President of International Ministries here at Joni and Friends, Steve Bundy. Steve… it’s so good to have you here!
STEVE: Oh, Joni it’s great to be with you today and a quick Happy Father’s Day to all the dads listening.
JONI: Right! Now, Steve, you’ve got a big title here at the Joni and Friends, but the one you probably prize the most is your title as Dad. Tell us about your family.
STEVE: Yeah, that’s so true Joni. Of all my titles, being husband and father is probably the biggest. And I might add maybe the hardest. You know, I’ve been married with my college sweetheart Melissa for 32 years now. I asked her to marry me within the first year of our dating. I was so captured with her. And we have two wonderful boys.
JONI: Yeah.
STEVE: Our first son his name is Caleb and Caleb is 26 years old today, Joni. Today is his birthday! Today is his birthday.
JONI: Oh, happy birthday to Caleb!
STEVE:
STEVE: Caleb was born with a rare chromosome deletion that’s resulted in muscular dystrophy, autism, and severe intellectual disabilities. We call him our full package. Our second son is Jaron. He’s 22 years old and graduating this year from Belmont University. He is a gifted musician, and music producer, and a great, great brother to Caleb.
JONI: Well, Steve, you and Caleb were actually Heart for the Disabled recipients when he was only 5 years old. So, working at Joni and Friends and fatherhood, how has that shaped you?
STEVE: Not only were we recipients for Heart for the Disabled, but that was about the time when we first experienced our first Joni and Friends Family Retreat. And I’ve got to say Joni, being here for 18 years, it has shaped not only my faith, but my heart. And probably what stands out the most is really gaining I think the greater perspective of the sovereignty of God, and God’s purposes, and his plans for not only my life, but for Caleb’s and for my entire family. You know, there’s a great comfort that comes when we are able to place our lives in faith, and in trust in God, and his sovereignty, and his plans. And it really helps the father – not only if life is chaotic, and disturbing, and frustrating because your child is suffering with disability, but to know that God is indeed faithful and his promises are true.
JONI: Yes! Well, what strikes me most about your story is just how overwhelming and difficult it was as Caleb got older; you didn’t back down and you charged into that wholeheartedly. There was a new set of routines once Caleb grew up.
STEVE: Yeah, so true Joni. You know, life with disability – often people think it gets harder, but it often gets more difficult, more challenging. And that was the case with Caleb. You know, his physical functions began to decrease as he got bigger and became a young man. His autism and behaviors got more severe. His mind continued to be very limited in terms of his cognition and so life for us was hard and it still is to this day quite honestly. We’ve had to adapt to a lot and as hard as it’s been Joni, I have learned that God meets us in the dark places. And when he meets us in the dark places, his spirit gives us the gift of long suffering. He allows us to suffer long and to love well those he’s placed in our lives.
JONI: What would you say to a new father who just found out that his child has a disability? Do you have words of advice?
STEVE: No matter your circumstance or that of your child, God loves you. He’s not abandoned you. He has not forsaken you. He has plans and purposes for your life, your child’s life, and your family. Lean into him, trust him. His promises are true.
JONI: Steve, I want to thank you and I encourage special needs dads listening today to read “Another Kind of Courage.” It’s available at joniradio.org where you will find a link to Steve’s book and you’ll be able to download one of the book’s chapters for free. It’s our Father’s Day gift to you so, Happy Father’s Day!
STEVE: Thank you, Joni.
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