On Gifts and Disabilities

Family Retreat

Joni and Friends International Disability Center is a unique ministry with many facets. I learned about Joni and Friends only last year, but it has had a huge impact on my life. For the past two summers I have been thrilled to have had the opportunity to serve at a Joni and Friends Family Retreat.

Family Retreat is a time when families that are affected by disability are able to rest, meet other families, and enjoy fun activities that are catered to their needs. One of the things I really appreciate is that it is also a time for spiritual refreshment. Family Retreat is not just a fun week; it is a time when the Gospel is shared and people are encouraged with the word of God.

I was so excited about the opportunity to serve the first time I went, and I was expecting to be a blessing to families affected by special needs. Little did I know how much God would teach me and how much I would be blessed. Joni and Friends has had a huge impact on my life, and I want to share some of my experiences and things I've learned from being involved with it.

Different Gifts

Many people do not know how to interact with those who have disabilities. I used to be afraid of their differences too and ended up treating them in an unloving way. I wanted to treat them kindly, but I didn't know what to do around them. Serving at family retreat taught me that people with special needs are no different than me, they just have different gifts than I do. It made me realize that God chooses to give each person different gifts and talents, and while we don't get to choose our gifts, we do get to choose what we do with them. We are all made in the image of God, and every person is precious. People with special needs are just people--who have special needs. Realizing this has helped me to know how to show value to people with disabilities. I've learned to just smile and engage them in the exact same way I would any other person. Now I have many friends with disabilities, and I have been blessed by their gifts. 

Juddy's Gift

I will never forget the smile on one boy's face when we lined the red carpet to cheer for the families that entered the chapel. We were already cheering wildly, but when this boy entered, everyone started cheering, "JUDDY! JUDDY! JUDDY!" I had never met him because it was my first year at camp, but it was impossible to miss him. 

Juddy is famous for his smile. He cannot do a lot of the tasks that we would consider to be simple; however, he has found the secret to something that psychologists still haven't figured out. Juddy knows the secret to joy. Juddy is in a wheelchair and can't talk, but you never notice his chair, and his smile speaks for him. He just enjoys the life God has given him, and seems to squeeze out every ounce of joy in each day. He has a gift of joy, and he shares it everywhere he goes. 

When I came home from camp last year, his smile was imprinted in my mind. I wrote a song in his honor entitled "He Gave Joy." Whenever I think about Juddy, I am reminded that no matter what is happening in my life, "this is the day that the Lord has Made," and as long as I amm alive, I want to "rejoice and be glad in it."

Ralph's Gift

Another person who particularly touched my heart this year was Ralph. Every year at Family retreat, there is a talent show that is held by the disabled campers and their families. It is one of the most memorable nights of the week. This year, Ralph sang a song called "You Put the Light in Me." Ralph is blind, and to hear him sing that song was touching. He has never seen the light, but he stood up there, smiling, and sang about a light that shines brighter than the sun and all the stars together. He sang about the light that God gives. Ralph couldn't see the tears that rolled down my cheeks as he sang, but his song reminded me of why I came to camp. He reminded me of my reason for living. I live to tell others about God's light.

Ralph has a gift for sharing the light of Christ. This blind man is leading others to the cross. He does not know how to make his way around well, but He knows that Jesus is the way to heaven.

Philip's Gift

Philip is quite a character. He can wheel himself so fast in his wheelchair. One day at camp I remarked, "Philip, you are so fast!" He replied, "I bet I could beat you If we raced!" I'm sure he could have. Philip is a very smart boy with a caring heart. One day I was holding the door for his Dad who was also in a wheelchair, when Philip raced up behind me, locked his wheelchair, and grabbed the door. He wanted to serve his Dad. Philip has the gift of a servant's heart. His eagerness to serve impacted me. It was more difficult for him to hold the door than for me to, but that didn't stop him. He wanted to serve. Philip reminded me that I should serve others even when it's challenging, and I should do it with a willing heart.

Mrs. Ellen's Gift

Every morning at seven, Mrs. Ellen met with anyone who wanted to pray. We had a list of everyone at camp and prayed for each person. Mrs. Ellen has a passion for prayer. If you ever mention a struggle to her, she will offer up a prayer right there on your behalf. She has her own challenges. Mrs. Ellen has spina bifida. Her "disability" does not keep her from serving the Lord. She can't do some of the activities at camp, but she uses her passion for prayer to serve everyone at the retreat. Nothing happens without the power of the Spirit, and that is why her prayers are so important. Even if we had planned everything perfectly, we would not have been able to minister to the families that came if we had not been empowered by the Holy Spirit. Mrs. Ellen does many other things to serve at Family Retreat; however, it is her passion for prayer that impacted me most. Mrs. Ellen reminded me that prayer is essential for every day of our lives.

I could tell you many more stories about the people I met at Family Retreat. Many would make you laugh, and some might make you cry. Even if I shared every story, it could not fully portray what I have experienced. Every person I met was precious, and God has uniquely gifted them all!

A New Definition of "Disabled"

Not only did I learn that the "disabled" are normal people, I realized that "normal" people are disabled. Prior to serving at Family Retreat, I thought I was a normal girl going to serve disabled people. However, "disabled" took on a whole new meaning for me after I met my dear friends at camp. I realized that sometimes it is the blind that really see truth, the deaf that truly hear God's voice, and the crippled that actually walk by faith. I was the one limping around on my own strength. I was the one who was blind in so many areas. I was the one who had a hard time hearing God's voice. I realized that my disabilities were just as real as theirs.

Spiritual Disability

"Oh! How hard it would be to be completely dependent on someone else for everything," one person remarked in a conversation we were having about disabilities. It would be difficult to need someone else feed you, clothe you, bathe you, and do everything else for you. It is hard to imagine what it would be like to be in the shoes of some of the people at Family Retreat. The truth is, we are all completely dependent on someone else.

 We all need God's grace and are totally dependent on Him. Thanks be to God who made provision for our souls! Jesus, the Son of God, lived a sinless life and died in our place to take the punishment for our sins. He offers His free gift of salvation to everyone who believes in Him. 

That is what Joni and Friends is all about. It is not just about providing a fun experience for people with special needs. It is about loving people who might be a little different, but who need a Savior just like everyone else. Family retreat is about pointing people to the One who can care for their special needs. The One who can give them life and hope and will one day wipe away every tear. The One who will one day call them to pick up their mats and walk, who will open their eyes to behold His glory, who will heal their ears to hear the music of heaven, and loosen their lips to declare His praise. Everyone who is in Christ will one day receive a new body and will not suffer anymore. Joni and Friends is not only about helping disabled people enjoy this life. It is about loving them through their trials and giving them hope that goes beyond this life. Joni and friends is reaching out to the people who are suffering from disability. It is helping them through their trials now and sharing the way to eternal life.

The Value of Suffering

Serving at Family retreat has caused me to realize the value in suffering. Every Christian wants the courage of Stephen, the boldness of John the Baptist, and the faith of Paul, but few would volunteer to endure the trials it took those men to gain them. The trials that people face strengthen their faith. Sometimes, it is the girl with a G-Tube that is eating spiritual meat, and it is the businessman that is still drinking spiritual milk. If we could fully understand the spiritual blessings that are gained through suffering, we would all be signing up. At Family Retreat, I learned that suffering is invaluable, and God really does work all things (even the painful things) out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. Our faith may be tested by fire, but afterwards, it will result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Pride

If there was ever a reminder to me that I have no reason to boast, serving at Joni and Friends has been that reminder for me. While I was at Family Retreat with people who could not do a lot of the things I never give a second thought to, I was reminded that the only reason I can speak, walk, or even eat is because God has given me those gifts. All the things I prided myself in were suddenly swept out from under me when I met my friends with special needs. "But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Galatians 6:14

More than Words

Only a couple of days before I arrived at camp this year, I found out that I was going to be assisting with Bible and music instead of being paired with a camper. I began praying that God would prepare my heart to worship and to lead others at camp in worship. However, I was surprised when I got there and stood before the families, that they actually led me in worship. 

When I looked out into the crowd and saw people who were facing trials and still praising God's name, it moved my soul to praise Him too. It was a taste of heaven to stand and sing God's praises together. These people were hurting and tired, but they still blessed the name of the Lord. 

I could not help but think of Job, who upon finding out that he had just lost everything, "tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped" Job 1:20. These people had many challenges and struggles, but they praised the name of the Lord, and it was beautiful. 

What I saw at Joni and friends was a true picture of worship. Worship is not singing a song. It is not a warm, sappy, gushy feeling or experience that you have when the lights are dark and the music is playing. In fact it is not a feeling at all. Worship is an attitude. It is an attitude that exalts God above all else. It is the acceptance of all His dealings (even the painful ones) with you as good, and the ability to bless His name at all times. God is seeking true worshipers who will worship in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23). Worship is an attitude, and it manifests itself in actions. I was reminded at camp this year that worship is so much more than words.

Looking Forward to the Next Retreat

I have learned so much at Family retreat. My friends from family retreat taught me a lot about my own pride and disabilities, the value of suffering, and true worship. Not only have I learned, but I have also built relationships that will carry over into eternity. Serving at Joni and Friends Family retreat has been a time of growth, encouragement, love, laughter, and blessing in my life. Of all the people at Family Retreat in the past two years, I think I have been most blessed. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. I can hardly wait for the next Family Retreat! Even more so, I look forward to the day when there will be no more disabilities. The day when my friends from Family Retreat and I will all stand in the presence of the Lord, see His face, hear His voice, and sing His praises together. 

"Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame... that my house may be filled."

Luke 14:21, 23b

To learn more about Joni and Friends and Family Retreat click here.

For a free download of my song about Juddy, click here.