"Dear Mary Lou…"

“Dear Mary Lou…

 

I recently learned through the Moody Network a few details about your battle against breast cancer – I'm right with you, Mary Lou!  Whether surgery, chemo, pain, the daily medications, whatever… I can empathize!  I heard, however, that the pain in your shoulder and arm hasn’t, over time, subsided; I am so sorry to hear this news.  I don’t have any residual pain from my cancer surgery, but I do deal with other pain pretty much on a daily basis – and, oh, it can wear you down so quickly! …May grace and strength be yours, friend.  Here’s hoping our paths cross in the future!

Joni Eareckson Tada”

 

            Such were the surprise email words of encouragement received by my wife Mary Lou from Joni this last February. Joni, who is quadriplegic and leads an international disability ministry took time to empathize with a fellow sufferer. More than once Mary Lou has said, “If Joni can do it, so can I.”

 

            “Why such suffering?”, you ask. I sat a couple rows back from Joni and her husband Ken at the EFCA National Conference in San Diego in June and watched the effort needed to be there and speak to EFCA leaders about learning to minister in our weakness to others who are weak.

 

            The only lasting ministry happens as we allow the Holy Spirit to apply Jesus’ work in us and through us as channels of His grace. And that happens best when we are weak.

 

            Standing back to see the big picture of His Kingdom plan reminds us in a parable that He invited many to the banquet, including the rich and proud. But thinking they were full on their own they refused to come. So the master told his workers to go out into the highways and compel the lame and blind to come in so His table can be filled! (Luke 14:12-24)

 

            The weak know their need and are grateful. In fact, they are needed. In 1Cor 12:22 God elaborates saying “on the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…”

 

            In spite of the challenges Mary Lou’s weakness and our daughter JR's deafness brings our family, it is encouraging to me that we need the weaker parts to give us the right perspective and lead us to think like Jesus thinks.

 

            That is why God has given First Ev. Free opportunity to minister to a growing number of children and adults with special needs. We need them. And yes, they need us.

 

            One couple in our congregation faces the possibility of giving birth to a child with special needs and will leave this week for Albuquerque for a month prior to the delivery.

 

           My nephew, a ministry leader in Africa, was with us recently and reminded us of this as whenever he walked or sat he had to change his leg brace position. Polio has made him sensitive to others in need and led him to include disability ministry. We are working together to help him partner with Joni and Friends in ministry in a similar way to the partnership worked out between the EFCA international mission (Reach Global).

 

            Look around you and remember Paul’s words in 2 Cor. 12:10 “when I am weak, then I am strong”. When we humble ourselves we attract God’s grace and He does things through us we never could on our own.

 

            So rejoice in your weakness and receive His grace. Welcome others’ weaknesses as opportunities to reorient your perspective. You’ll be welcomed at the table of the Lord in His Kingdom.