Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and you’re listening to "Joni and Friends."
My friend, Judy Butler, served as my administrative assistant for decades, and about two years ago she retired at the age of 73. She not only invested long hours at Joni and Friends, but even now she still helps me with my personal needs in my wheelchair. Sometimes Judy will cook dinner for Ken and me. And often people say to her, “Judy, it is wonderful the way you help Joni,” to which she always replies, “Well, God is worth it!” (She’s British, you see!) And you know what, God is worth it. Judy is keenly aware that when she helps me, she is working for the Lord, and not for the praise of others.
She also knows that when she used to book my travel tickets, answer the phone, set my appointments, and travel with me near and far, she was making an eternal investment, advancing the kingdom of Christ, fulfilling God's purpose for her life, and setting the stage for others to hear the Good News. Also, even now in her retirement, when Judy picks up things for me at the market, or helps me with my personal routines, and whips up her famous lamb curry for me and my husband, she is serving the least of the brethren (that’s how I think about myself).
Now is Judy simply helping a disabled lady? No, she is serving God. And he’s worth it! Colossians chapter 3, verses 23-24 say, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” I tell you, Judy works at things with all her heart, because she knows that it is the Lord Christ that she is serving. In fact, even though she is now 75 years old, Judy just finished serving at our International Family Retreat in Serbia. And guess what she did? Yep, she was assigned to help an elderly Serbian with a disability.Judy also spoke to the special-needs families on the subject of care-giving. And she repeated that workshop the following week when she then traveled with our team to Romania to hold an International Family Retreat there.
And as in Serbia, she spoke to some pretty weary Romanian mothers and fathers of disabled kids; parents who are getting so tired of the non-stop 24/7 day to day disability routines. And you know what the theme was in her workshop? Colossians, chapter 3. She was able to encourage these caregivers with the assurance that when they minister to their child with a disability, they are serving the Lord. And one day, for all their perseverance and diligence, they will receive an inheritance from Jesus as a reward. Oh, friend, if you’re a caregiver who is tired there is a reward on your horizon!
In fact, if you are a caregiver, or know someone who is, you need to read a fantastic booklet I would like to give you as a gift. It’s called “Help for the Caregiver” and it is filled with lots of great encouragement.So seeing that it’s National Caregivers Month, please, visit my radio page today at joniandfriends.org and ask for your free gift “Help for the Caregiver.” Oh, and one more thing, be in prayer for the special-needs families who just finished attending our Family Retreat in Cuba, and we have another one coming up next week in El Salvador! And hey, think about serving at one of our International Family Retreats like Judy Butler. Help other special-needs moms and dads see that God is worth it when they are giving care to their disabled loved one. And if you want to see Judy Butler at work in Serbia then visit our radio page where I have posted a photo at joniandfriends.org.
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