Joni Eareckson Tada
"ACCEPT ME AS I AM SO THAT
I MIGHT BECOME"
by Judy Joy Jones
Recently I remembered a book I read called "Joni".
Joni Eareckson Tada was just 17 when a diving accident left her paralyzed from the neck down and confined to a wheelchair. She starting painting holding the paintbrush with her teeth
and a movie was made about her life. Joni starred as herself in the film.
A chapter in her book when Joni was in the hospital after her diving accident and suffering horribly, explains how she kept praying not to be paralyzed and in a wheelchair.
A cruel nurse who was suppose to turn Joni's bed over several times in the night so she could breath properly refused to so and the following morning after an extremely painful night,Joni said a new prayer;
"Thy Will; Not Mine Be Done".
And her book "Joni" as well as the movie based on her life continue to inspire the entire world!!
Joni's remarkable story reminded me of when I was part of a movie corporation and the director gave all of us a T-shirt which said;
"Accept Me As I Am so that I Might Become!"
c jj 2023
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Even though my paralysis was much less than hers, and I could still draw or paint, I didn't. I've seen other friends that used a mouth stick to do things and I really admire it. I find that doing anything with my mouth would be very frustrating because my neck is so unstable. And my arm is still more stable but not enough to even sign my name since 1998.
I hope that Joni is still alive. So many of my paralyzed friends are gone.
Ron