People with disabilities are at great risk in a world that thinks only of itself. Churches who have an outreach to special needs families can have a profound impact on our culture by doing something about the afflictions of the needy.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and I just read the most off-the-wall thing.
Okay, the other day, right, I was sitting at a kiosk with a friend, enjoying a cup of chai, and I glanced at the label on my teabag. It was so strange, I had to read it out loud to my friend. It said, “The purpose of life is to know yourself, love yourself, trust yourself, and be yourself.” Strange, right? And I tell you, it shows what happens in a culture when its people abandon God and belittle the idea that we bear his image. And you know what? It’s people with disabilities who are suffering the most because of this worldview. The elderly, newborns with disabilities, people with disabling conditions, we are at a risk in a world that thinks only of itself. A society that seeks only pleasure and self-interest will always turn a blind eye to those with hard disabling conditions, ’cause those people require too much time, too much effort; their needs are too great.
And I bring this to light because March is Disability Awareness Month, and I want us to be aware of what’s being unleashed globally on families who struggle with disability. Educational, medical, social services have been slashed, and even the most basic supports have yet to recover from the pandemic. Even an “enlightened” nation like Canada is helping disabled people die rather than live – and it’s true! Assisted suicide is being offered to Canadians with disabilities who cannot afford the cost of living. It’s crazy! No wonder families who care for a disabled loved one are feeling anxious and isolated and vulnerable. Just recently, I heard Dr. John MacArthur say – and this is a quote – he said, “Ours is a culture of death… and ministries like Joni and Friends are needed in a world that devalues the lives of the elderly and disabled.”
I tell you, when he said that, I felt like jumping up out of my wheelchair and saying, “Yes!” ’Cause at Joni and Friends, we do not believe that special needs families require too much time or effort. And there are countless churches I know who feel the same. Because as far as needs go, Psalm 22:24 says that our almighty God “has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” Yeah, love that. And on this Disability Awareness Month, I’m convinced churches who have an outreach to special needs families; these churches can have a profound impact on our culture, for when a church does something about the afflictions of the needy, society is going to see their good works – as it says in Matthew 5 – and they’re going to glorify their God who’s in heaven.
And at Joni and Friends, we’re listening to the cries of families that feel the weight of disability. We’re responding with more Family Retreats this year and more Marriage and Warrior Getaways, more Wheels for the World outreaches, and more locations for Joni’s House, plus more training for more churches. Because the purpose of life is not to know yourself and trust yourself… it is to know God and trust him. It is not to love yourself and be yourself… it is to love others and be the hands and heart of Christ to those in need. And, hey, I’ve posted a photo of that teabag and what I read – it’s at joniradio.org today, so you’ve got to take a look. And finally, let’s bless families who struggle with disability, and in so doing, let’s reclaim our culture for Christ! Oh, and one more thing. Today is International Wheelchair Day and if you’ve got a wheelchair to give us, check out joniradio.org for details on how you can get it to us. It’s a good way to bring a little disability awareness into the month of March. Go today to joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends