Don’t focus on what you can’t do. Instead fix your eyes on what you can do and then pursue it with all the strength God gives.
Every wheelchair donated is the opportunity for someone to experience the love and hope of Jesus Christ! Find a drop-off location near you:
https://joniandfriends.org/wheels-for-the-world/donate-a-wheelchair/
SHAUNA: Hi, I'm Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Today Joni remembers the very first thing she ever drew with her mouth!
JONI: Oh, my goodness, back then I was one nervous, frightened teenager when they pushed me down the hospital hallway for my first visit to occupational therapy. I was just getting used to the idea of being paralyzed, being a quadriplegic, and I had no idea what occupational therapy was all about.
Well, when they wheeled me into the room, an OT walked up, introduced herself, and told me that I was there to learn how to do new things with what little ability I had left. I couldn’t imagine what that meant—I mean, I couldn’t use my legs, my arms, my hands. What could I possibly do? That’s when she took a pencil and said, “Here, put this in your mouth; I want you to write the alphabet on this tablet of paper.” I was shocked! Like, you want me to do what?! And when she put that pencil in my mouth, I spit it out. I could not imagine myself being reduced to doing nothing more than writing or drawing with a pencil between my teeth.
Needless to say, it was not a pleasant experience that first day in occupational therapy. What's more, was I put to shame when I saw them bring in a young quadriplegic named Tom who was a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. When my therapist approached him with the same speech, Tom willingly took the pencil between his teeth and he began writing on the tablet – with a smile, no less. And when I saw his willing attitude, I was so ashamed of myself. I mean here I had grumbled and complained and thought that drawing with my mouth was beneath me. I was so ashamed because Tom’s attitude about it was incredible and that humbled me.
The next day my occupational therapist approached me with a large oval-shaped piece of wet clay. She wanted to try again; and so, she asked if I wanted to draw something on it. At first, I shook my head and tried to explain that talent for art was in the way you held the pencil, and I could not hold a pencil with my hands, but she insisted anyway. Well, sitting there and remembering the example of Tom the day before, I decided to give it a try. So, I clenched down on this wooden stick that had a little pointy end, and I began to etch a design into the wet clay. When I finished my drawing, oh my goodness, not only was my occupational therapist amazed, so was I! It was incredible, but there it was. I did a drawing of a cowboy on a bucking horse [remember I was a teenager and into horses back then].
And I couldn’t believe it; I was amazed! The piece of clay was glazed, put in the kiln, and now – so many decades later – this clay etching remains a treasure to me; it is a tangible expression of that wonderful verse that says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I have this plaque of the cowboy on his bucking horse right in my art studio, so that whenever people come to the International Disability Center for a tour, I can pull out the drawer of the file folder; I can show them this incredible oval etching, and I tell them the story of how God will often use the examples of other people, like that ventilator-dependent quad named Tom, to teach us about humility and courage. So, friend, don’t focus on what you can’t do. Instead, would you please fix your eyes on what you can do and then pursue it with all the strength God gives?
SHAUNA: I just love this story! And I know you do, too. Joni shares even more about her Clay Cowboy artwork in a video you can see on our website. Just go to joniradio.org today where you’ll see a photo of her very first piece of mouth art and you’ll be able to watch that very special video. And remember what Tom and Joni teach us. You really can do all things through Christ who humbles and strengthens us.
© Joni and Friends