Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and this is National Day of Prayer week.
Thursday, as you know, is the day when prayer groups across the nation will be lifting up our country before the Lord, praying for our national leaders, men and women in the Armed Forces, Supreme Court justices, and people in law enforcement and firefighting. And there’s one fireman I will be particularly remembering in prayer. His name is Joe and I want to tell you his story.
Joe the fireman volunteers every summer helping disabled kids at our Joni and Friends Family Retreats. Joe’s a young guy, a little past college age, but all his life he wanted to be a firefighter. Joe is a much valued part of his firefighting unit. Now because he spends a lot of time fighting fires, Joe understands that it takes real courage to enter a burning building to rescue someone. And he’s done it! He’s been there; he has risked his life to enter a burning building in order to bring out children who, otherwise, would perish. Joe tells me that when he realizes there’s someone on the other side of those flames in need of help, his training kicks in and courage takes over. He doesn’t think twice… he just sees the desperate need and helps.
Now when Joe heard about our Family Retreats during the summer, he thought it would be a great thing to do during his off season. When he first started volunteering, he admitted he felt awkward around children with disabilities. He’d never been around kids with cerebral palsy or children who were intellectually disabled. That first day at Family Retreat Joe was pretty timid, and some people took him as shy (which seemed very odd for a fireman).
But then Joe remembered the courage he needed to fight raging fires; my goodness, if he could do that, then that same courage should help him around boys and girls in wheelchairs! And now, every summer Joe doesn’t think twice; the training we gave him just kicks in and it’s his great joy to rescue kids out of depression and discouragement through his loving gift of service. No wonder so many families at our retreats look at Joe with admiration. They see in him a firefighter who not only exhibits great courage, but real compassion.
And Joe’s not the only one. Lots of firefighters – lots of people in law enforcement even – these community servants seem to be especially drawn to the volunteer opportunities we have at Joni and Friends. That’s why on Thursday, when I’m in Washington, D.C. helping to lead the National Day of Prayer events at the capital and the Pentagon, and the Walter Reed Medical Center, I will be remembering the brave men and women in both law enforcement and firefighting. These public servants truly do care about the people in their communities, and Joe is proof of that. In the booklet “Pray for Our Nation,” two pages give special instructions on how to pray for firefighters and I’d like to send you this important little resource. If you’re serious about praying for our country and those who serve it, then please, today, go online to our radio page at joniandfriends.org and ask for your free copy. Again, it’s called “Pray for Our Nation” and I recommend it as a great handbook to use all year long as you lift up our country in prayer.
Oh, one final word. Check to see in your area where there is a National Day of Prayer site near you and then make every effort to attend that important meeting. You can check out the website of this radio station right now. And I’m sure they will have local National Day of Prayer events listed. It could be your church or a church in your neighborhood. Call and get details and then take a friend with you as you unite your hearts with others in your community in observance of the National Day of Prayer.
Come by and visit me today at our radio page at joniandfriends.org and let us hear from you. Until next time thanks for listening to Joni and Friends!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
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