Joni: Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and in studio today with me is my friend Nick Vujicic. Nick, as you know is Australian; he's known as the man without limbs. Because of a rare genetic disorder he was born without his limbs being developed. Nick, welcome to the program!
Nick: Thank you Joni; it is such an honor to be here.
Joni: Well, you know when you wheel into the studio and I see that smile off yours, it inspires me in my wheelchair.
Nick: No; you’ve inspired me and my family beyond what any words can express. So thank you Joni for being such a trooper, a champion, and a general in the kingdom’s army.
Joni: Oh, thank you. And Nick I’m just sorry that your wife, Kenae, could not be here and little son, Kiyoshi. But, we’ll meet them at another time; we’ll get them here at the microphone. But this month is National Bullying Prevention Month and I know that you have some powerful things to say about fear, intimidation—especially when kids are young, when there is a disability involved. And you have experience with it, right? Tell us about that.
Nick: In Australia, in 1989 I was going to school and I was actually the first special needs child to be integrated into the “normal” school setting, if you will. And so I had a lot of unwanted attention. A loving home; I mean they made our house not just home but sometimes a refuge. I mean, I felt like sometimes I was going to school at war. And listening to all the names that were being called at me and the laughing, it just got a little bit too much sometimes.
Joni: Now how old were you?
Nick: I was six when I first realized that I had no arms, no leg, was very different and I was getting all this attention not knowing what to do with it. It was a difficult time in my life.
Joni: So you were six years old: preschool, first-grade, second-grade, whatever. What sort of things would kids do; what would they say?
Nick: [kid’s would say] “Look at that little boy … He can’t do anything … Go away …” You know, just a lot of the facial expressions and the stares that make you feel very unwanted.
Joni: you know I’ve watched a video in which you talk about bullying. And in that you say, “If you believe the lies that are in your heart, you’ll end up dying.” Talk about that.
Nick: Well, if you don’t know the truth you will die with the life. And understanding that the truth of your value is not determined by other people’s opinion for what you have or what you don’t have, or what you can do and what you cannot do. Too often, I think we put our insecurities and outer things and we must understand that there is not another you, there will never be another you, and God’s not asking you to do anything else but the best ‘you’ you can be.
Joni: And that really revolutionized your life I am sure; that was the hand grenade that blew to smithereens all those lies that had lodged themselves in your heart. At what age did you start believing that God had a special plan for you?
Nick: Look, it did take some time. In fact because I didn’t understand God's love for my life and not understanding why he doesn’t rescue me from my pain, I did go through a depression between ages eight and 12. But at 15 I read about what Jesus had in mind for a blind man and that's when I said, “Okay God, I'm going to be thankful for what I have, do my best and trust for you to do the rest.”
Joni: Absolutely. There may be some young people listening, Nick, who are struggling, they feel intimidated, fearful about going to school; they are being bullied because they have buck teeth, thick glasses … What would you tell them?
Nick: Oh, you’re beautiful; God loves you; you’re wonderfully and fearfully made. Don’t give up; God will never give up on you, and he can turn something bad into something beautiful.
Joni: Absolutely. And friend, this is the same encouragement that Nick shares in a video that I’d like you to see today. I’ve posted a link to it on my radio page where you can watch Nick as he speaks out to a group of public high schoolers o the topic of bullying, so visit my radio page today at joniandfriends.org. Thanks, Nick.
Nick: Love you!
Joni: And I love you, too!
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