When you serve at one of Joni and Friends’ Family Retreats, the Lord will use you to change a child’s life, and he’ll change your life in the process too! Visit joniradio.org for more details on signing up this summer at Family Retreat!
A Joni and Friends Family Retreat is a little slice of heaven on earth! Learn how you be part of providing a Christ-centered, accessible week of respite for families living with disability here: https://joniandfriends.org/family-retreat/
SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope with a story from Joni that will touch your heart.
JONI: It’s the kind of story that happens all the time at a Joni and Friends Family Retreat. You see, last summer, Susan attended a Family Retreat with her 12-year-old son David; he’s got autism and other disorders. David doesn’t speak and is extremely sensitive to change and unusual sounds. It’s not uncommon for Susan to shield David – like if they’re in a store or a restaurant, a loud intercom or a plate shattering to the floor; it can make David go ballistic, violently beating his head and screaming. Susan has had to deal with a lot of negative comments and, more often than not, ends up leaving the store or the restaurant, sometimes even an extended family gathering. As a single parent, it’s so challenging for Susan to give David all the attention he needs – she’s working as she’s trying to make ends meet; participating in his schooling, shepherding him through Sunday school, this mother is worn out before the day is half done.
A friend told Susan about Family Retreat, but she was afraid to sign up. She said, “You know, camps are usually a big disappointment”, and there have been a few where she has quietly been asked to leave with David. But the first day she was at a Joni and Friends Family Retreat, she knew this would be different. Julie, the director, had lined David up with two teenagers – guys who were just as energetic as David, but also understood his limitations. After all, these two young men grew up with disabled brothers, and they knew the ropes. So, when David had a meltdown during one of the retreat activities Susan began to panic. But David’s two young volunteers just took him outside with a beach ball and made their own fun. Susan could hardly believe it. I mean, this was such a different experience, and by midweek, her son was even getting up early to meet his two new friends. David may not have been able to communicate with words, but his actions showed that he thought these two guy volunteers were pretty cool.
On the last day of Family Retreat, Susan wanted to stand and give a testimony not only to our team, but to all the other families gathered. With tears streaming down her face, she kept wiping her eyes and saying, “I’m so amazed, I’m so amazed. This camp is more than I could ever have imagined. You see, most of the time people are too eager to judge and make negative comments, but that did not happen here at Family Retreat. This has been the best week ever for David, and we can’t wait to come back.”
Wow! I share Susan’s story, because I just bet there’s a friend listening who could say as a parent, it’s her story. If so, would you please come to a Family Retreat this summer? Or you might be the young person who could serve like those two high schoolers who volunteered to help David. If so, we need you. Young kids like David need you.
SHAUNA: And friend, as we get ready for our summer camps all across the country, thank you for praying for families like Susan’s. They need the love of Jesus. And they experience that love at Family Retreat, and God can use you to share his love with them. So, please visit joniradio.org where you’ll find a list of all our upcoming Family Retreats and pray about how you might get involved. When you serve at Family Retreat, the Lord will use you to change a child’s life, and he’ll change your life in the process! We’ll see you today at joniradio.org and hope to see you this summer at Family Retreat! And if you need some extra encouragement, just go to joniradio.org where you’ll find all kinds of resources and inspiration. Remember that’s joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends