There’s always another whose struggles can inspire you…
Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and welcome to Joni and Friends where we always celebrate the way God's grace through our trials inspires us to persevere. It sure is true for me and my husband, Ken. You’ve heard me often talk on this radio program about the way Ken takes care of me in my wheelchair. In the past, I’ve told you how the pain that I deal with has created some changes in our routine – some difficult changes, one of which is that Ken has to get up at night more often to turn me in bed a couple of extra times. It used to be I could sleep straight through the night. But now, it’s rare that I'm able to do that. It’s just too painful. So bless his heart, my husband, Ken, will maybe rise up at 2:00 a.m. to turn me and then maybe again at 5:00 a.m. – it is a big sacrifice night after night, praise God, he’s kept a great attitude about it, thanks to the grace of God.
Well, not long ago, George, who listens over BBN Radio, visited my radio page and wrote me an email. And this is what he said. I’ve got the email here:
“HI JONI!...JUST HEARD THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND ON YOUR SEGMENT ON BBN RADIO...YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW YOUR HUSBAND HAS TO GET UP… AT NIGHT TO TURN YOU... IT REMINDED ME OF WHEN TWO OF OUR FIVE BOYS HAD HEART CONDITIONS WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE... IF THEY WERE NOT TURNED EVERY 10 MINUTES IN THEIR BEDS AT NIGHT THEIR HEARTS WOULD STOP BEATING. THEY WOULD DIE IF LEFT UNATTENDED... SO, FOR EIGHT YEARS UNTIL THEIR CONDITIONS HEALED, LIFE AT NIGHT WAS LIVED ON THE SNOOZE ALARM... UP EVERY 10 MINUTES AND BACK TO BED… YES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO SLEEP ON 10 MINUTE CAT NAPS... THANK THE LORD HE HEALED MY BOYS... THEY ARE BOTH IN THEIR MID 20'S NOW AND LIVE NORMAL LIVES...”
Wow, can you imagine that? Think of it, every night for 8 years catching sleep in 10 minute intervals. Wow! Well, George wanted to make sure I told you it was his faithful wife, Teri, who really should get all the credit. He added that even today when they travel, Teri can take a 10 minute nap and she’ll be like new again. And, thank the Lord, that George and Teri’s two sons with heart disease are now in their mid-20’s and living regular lives.
You know, this story is a good reminder that there is always, always someone else suffering a greater conflict; someone who can inspire you to endure a lesser conflict. James 5:10 tells us to be an example of patience in the face of suffering. Then Titus 2:7 tells us to be an example to others by doing what is good. Always we are an example; always there is someone else who is watching, someone else who is observing what you do and the attitude with which you do it. There are always others to inspire and encourage; others who need your example. People who are hard-pressed in their trials and you, friend, have a ministry to them.
Speaking of which, if you need to be inspired today – if you need to be lifted up by the example of someone who is enduring a greater conflict – then don’t forget to visit my radio page at joniandfriendsradio.org and you will be so inspired by the examples of our nation’s wounded warriors who really suffer greater conflicts over in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have posted a marvelous video of not only Captain Ryan Voltin and wife, Pam, but several other wounded servicemen and women who were injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I know you’ll really be encouraged when you see firsthand their injuries and hear them tell firsthand their stories. Again, that’s joniandfriendsradio.org.
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