Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and, hey, we’re having fun celebrating Heart for the Disabled!
Thank you, all you who for the past couple of days have been sending in your notes – and even little gifties – of encouragement, and poems all for the disabled people and their family members I’ve mentioned. You listeners… you’re making this a celebration! And if you haven’t written your card yet, then by all means, please do so today – how about for my friend Diane and her family.
Diane is the single mother of her very active 11-year-old son, David. David is mostly non-verbal, he has autism, and this kid really loves to walk. Last summer at Family Retreat, David walked virtually non-stop – this kid had been asked to leave other handicap camps he had attended in the past because he was never able to sit still or track with the program. Because of this, Diane was a little apprehensive about coming to our Family Retreat for she was fairly certain we’d ask them to leave after the first day. But far from it! Instead, we assigned two – not one, but two – young men to David; two volunteers who followed that little boy all over the Family Retreat campus, walking, walking and walking some more. And mealtimes in the dining room weren't any easier -- whether sitting or walking, David was a handful!
Those volunteers really had their work cut out for them, but never did they complain. They just kept laughing and saying they were getting a great workout. Needless to say, our Family Retreat really helped Diane see the body of Christ people care, Christians care. Because this mother is very aware that it is very difficult for people to accept her son she was amazed at the way we treated them at our retreat. After retreat was all over and we did some follow-up on Diane and David, and when we did she hesitantly asked whether or not they would be allowed to return next summer. “Of course,” we told her. And now, already, Diane is saving up to return to Family Retreat again this year – it is (as she put it) a place where my son and I belong. Wow!
As you would guess, this single mother could use some encouragement. Think of the challenges she faces each day with this very active 11-year-old, constantly on the go which is part of his autism. And bless her heart, she wonders and worries about what will happen to David once he gets older – you think he’s hard to keep up with now?! Wait’ll he gets to be 18 or 19 years old. No wonder Diane often feels so tired and weary. But you, friend, can make a big difference in her life – I think it would really bolster her spirits so much to know that there are Christians like you who care, who are praying; who offer Scriptural support, people who are cheering her on. So may I ask you to write a note of encouragement to Diane today?
Include a Bible verse or two, or the words to a poem. Or just assure Diane you’ll be remembering her and David in your intercessions. Jot them a note today and any other little thing you might want to enclose… send your note to Diane and David in care of Joni and Friends, P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376. If you missed any details, just visit joniandfriends.org where I’ve included a paragraph about this little family, but we need you to write your letter today so that it arrives in time for this family to receive it on Valentine's Day. Again, that’s Diane and David… mail your note to them in care of Joni and Friends, P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376. God bless you for having a heart for the disabled -- and that includes Diane and David.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends