This week kicks off Heart for the Disabled week! Hear Joni share a story about a family that is staying strong in the Lord despite the challenges of a loved one passing.
SHAUNA: And Joni, it’s our favorite week! Time to kick off our Heart for the Disabled campaign!
JONI: And you know me, Shauna! I love this week because we get to share stories of families we’ve served through Joni and Friends. Because, while so many right now are enjoying this new year [you know this Shauna], people struggling with disability really need a boost of encouragement. Family Retreat was months ago, and the next one is still a long way off. So, friend, grab a pencil and a pad of paper so you can jot down a few notes about these great families and I’ll share their stories. Okay, so, here’s our first one.
Terry and Vicki’s oldest daughter, Chante, has intellectual disabilities and needs around-the-clock care. Chante and her two siblings have been coming to Family Retreat with their parents for 12 years. One of Terry’s favorite memories is the Talent Show. His kids would always lead Chante up on the stage, and they’d sing to her, dance around her, get her all excited, all the while keeping Chante as the focus. And everyone cracked up over Chante’s excitement! That was her talent. Chante just loved being center stage and her smile showed it.
Well, as you can imagine, Chante’s mom Vicki was the glue holding this family together. Sadly, though Vicki was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, and she passed away last summer. She had already signed up her family to come to our Retreat, which started only three days after she died. Oh, the grief.
And so! We could not believe it when Terry said he was still coming to Family Retreat! I mean, he had just lost his wife! But this amazing dad explained, “I have to do this for Chante. This is where she will find her healing and her comfort!” Wow! And even during Family Retreat, this precious dad and his able-bodied daughter Chennell were literally planning Vicki’s funeral.
In her grief, Chennell was able to say this. She said, “They say God gives us glimpses of heaven on earth, and that's exactly what Joni and Friends has been for our family. Each year, we go to support our sister, Chante, and we find a place where our hearts are filled—a sanctuary where we can set aside the weight of our struggles and simply be present together. No matter what life throws at us, we know there is joy and peace at Family Retreat. The love we feel here has touched us deeply, inspiring us to pour that same kindness and hope into others.”
But, as life-giving as Family Retreat is, Terry says he feels completely lost since losing his dear wife. He’s now the single dad of an adult daughter with disabilities, and he needs encouragement. So, let’s all send him uplifting notes with Bible verses, written prayers, or even the words to your favorite hymn. Let’s assure Terry that we will be praying for him, and Chante, and Chennell, and I haven’t mentioned Terrelle, and the rest of the family. And then, by all means, let’s lift their needs up before Jesus. How about it? Let’s remind them that God has not forgotten them and that he will carry them through this difficult season. Friend, you can see a photo of Terry, Vicki, and their family at joniradio.org. And Shauna, where should folks send their cards?
SHAUNA: Send your cards to Terry and Chante in care of Joni and Friends at P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376. If you missed our address, you can get that and all the details at joniradio.org. And God bless you for having a heart for the disabled!
© Joni and Friends