If it’s called Wheels for the World, why do we take walkers?
Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and you’ve often heard me speak about how we deliver wheelchairs and Bibles to needy disabled people overseas, right? A Bible is given to each family we meet, bringing hope and healing right along with the practical help of mobility with that wheelchair. We take all sorts of wheelchairs: adult size, recliners, pediatric wheelchairs, you name it. But get this: we also take walkers – in fact, we try to make certain to always take with us child-sized walkers… and there’s a special reason why.
It’s because of children like Hiralda – we met Hiralda and her mother, Hilda, during a recent Wheels for the World outreach in Peru. When Hilda came walking into our distribution site, we could tell this mother was absolutely worn out and exhausted… no wonder, she had come a long distance carrying 9-year-old Hiralda. “My dream is for my little girl to walk,” said Hilda. “She is getting too heavy for me to carry. I have prayed and asked God for a miracle.”
Hilda explained that Hiralda was born prematurely as a result of a car accident and her mother’s injuries, but Hiralda’s disability has not taken away her bright and joyful personality. She’s brimming with energy and possibility, Hiralda we discovered just needed a little nudge in the right direction. Of course, our Wheels for the World physical therapist fit this child to a specialized pediatric wheelchair, but upon closer inspection, including an examination of Hiralda’s legs and hips, our physical therapist stepped back and realized this kid had potential to walk and put all that energy to work!
Well, a lightweight pediatric walker was brought out, and instructions were gently spoken. At first, Hilda shook her head no, as though she had already convinced herself that her little girl couldn’t walk, that she didn’t have the strength. But once Hiralda spotted that walker and understood what the physical therapist was talking about, she started clamoring to give it a try. And so, our therapist situated the little walker in front of Hiralda sitting in her wheelchair. She leaned forward, grasped the handles and grinning from ear to ear, she pulled herself up and took her first tentative steps. She was pretty shaky, but was she afraid? No way. Remember, this is the kid brimming with energy and possibility. And who would have thought it was possible for this child to walk?! Wow! Empowered by God’s Word, Hiralda’s strong spirit is going to open many doors – and the wheelchair and walker will take her through them.
As you’d guess, her mother was over-the-top, crying and laughing and telling everybody, “God has answered my prayers!” Yes, friend, in some places the lame are walking all because of the presence of the Gospel and lots of pediatric walkers. It’s amazing how many children we encounter like Hiralda… children whose parents never dreamed they could actually walk. And it answers the question why we take walkers – especially child-sized walkers – on so many Wheels for the World trips… trips like the one we are just finishing up in India this week, and in India, just as we do on all our wheelchair distributions, we will be giving the Gospel. And I’d like to give it to you today, friend. I have three wonderful Gospel booklets called “Set Free by Grace” that I’d love to send you today. Gospel booklets that can help you share the Good News, as well. Just visit my radio page today at joniandfriends.org. Oh, and take a look at little Hiralda walking, too!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends