Welcome to Joni and Friends where you know I’m always singing.
Amazing grace, how the sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
Every time I sing this old hymn, I think of a teenage girl named Cindy – she has cerebral palsy. She uses a wheelchair – her legs and her arms are stiff and rigid. Cindy also cannot speak, which is why during Talent Night at one of our Family Retreats, I was so surprised when they welcomed Cindy on stage to sing a song. We all knew Cindy couldn’t sing; why, she couldn’t even speak a word. Nevertheless, we smiled and shook our heads; after all, this was Family Retreat; this was going to be fun.
Cindy’s mother wheeled her out onto the stage and into the spotlight. She locked the brakes on her daughter’s wheelchair and then adjusted the microphone – not to face Cindy’s mouth, but she aimed the microphone at the electronic communicator on Cindy’s lap board. Then she announced to all of us that for Talent Night, her daughter had chosen to sing her favorite hymn. Cindy’s mom made one more adjustment on the microphone, then walked behind the stage curtains.
At that point, Cindy painstakingly slowly raised her stiff and spastic arm, and tried to aim her pointing finger toward a button on her communicator. It wasn’t easy; her arm was flailing and flying everywhere. But this was Talent Night, and all of us were happy to wait patiently. We knew sooner or later she’d find that button and when she did, the mechanical voice from the communicator suddenly boomed out over the sound system: “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost, but now I’m found – was blind but now I see.” And all the while, Cindy had her head turned toward the audience so that we could see her mouthing the words, even to the second, third, and final verse. That night it gave fresh meaning to that verse, “Oh, sing a new song unto the Lord,” because there was literally not a dry eye in the group. A world-class singer on the stage of the Metropolitan opera could not have given a more moving performance. For it was a new song to the Lord, and believe me, we all felt his pleasure! Friend, that is what happens at Family Retreat – it really is like a slice of heaven. Maybe you know a family like Cindy’s who could benefit from a Joni and Friends Family Retreat (we have lots of scholarships available; or your church can sponsor a family). Or think about serving as one of our short-term missionaries (that’s what we call our volunteers). We need Christian friends like you to assist people like Cindy and her family. Does it sound interesting? Well, then contact me right away would you at joniandfriendsradio.org and ask for our Family Retreat brochures – it has all the details; I’ll send you three brochures, in fact, so you can share with potential volunteers or a family at church who has a disability. Again, that’s joniandfriendsradio.org, because Family Retreat is where you’ll definitely feel the Lord’s pleasure!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends