Joni and friends Family Retreat 1

Every single one of us on this Earth has a job to do for our Heavenly Father.  

I'd like you to meet Sheri, "my' camper/teacher while I was an STM at a Joni and friends family retreat this summer.  I will never look upon disability the same again.  I used a wheelchair (for distance and/or trips that needed endurance) for 13 or 14 years of the 18 years I had a pain disease called RSDS.  Medically speaking in February 2012, I went into a Spontanous Remission (spiritually, it's a whole other story of healing) and no longer needed my wheelchair.  So, I thought I'd go push someone else around in a wheelchair for a couple of days. Then, I met Sheri.  And my life changed.  I just hope I will not let this experience be lost in the shuffle of all other of life's business.

In June, 2012, we went out to Michigan for our niece's wedding.  She was getting married at Maranatha where she had met her wonderful husband.  What a great place to have their wedding, remembering the years spent there and their love that grew there.  Not too shabby for the guests either to get to spend some time on Lake Michigan!

The weekend of the wedding fell in between two weeks of Joni and friends family retreat and we heard a lot about the retreat that weekend.  I remember sorta blurting out (which seems to be a norm with me.  Blurt, then think) that I should go and be an STM (short term missionary) for a Joni and friends family retreat.   After saying that I got to thinking about why I should do that and the simple reason was that I had used a wheel chair.  I had not been able to get around Maranatha on previous visits very well while I had RSD.  And so, I would understand that need to be pushed in a wheelchair.  I'd been there, done that and could relate.

Little did I know that God may have been behind my blurt, in the very least, he used that blurted out statement to teach me.  And, I pray, use me.

You see, I just naively assumed that I would be helping someone get around physically.  I mean, Joni has a physical disability and so, I just was thinking I'd be pushing a wheelchair.  Little did I know the Lord would open my eyes and my heart to a whole new world of disability.

For about 24 hrs before my Camper Sheri arrived, everyone would ask who is your camper going to be? When I'd say, Sheri, most would get a smile and say, "Ah, Sheri.  You are going to have a great week."  I heard that sometimes STMs would ask for Sheri.  I heard that one STM said that Sheri taught her to be more friendly to people.

I did have a great week. It went fast.  I think I met most of the people who were there.  You see.  Sheri did not see a person there who wasn't worth greeting, loving, caring, helping.  She has a strong sense of right and wrong.  Eagle eyes to see whats wrong in her world.  No one had a zipper on their bag that went undone while she was around.  I could use her around all the time to remind me to close my purse! Oh, think of the times of spilled bags I could have avoided.

Sheri's capacity for caring shamed me (and yet taught me at the same time) when one of the other campers shared of the Home going of her aunt.  Sheri was the one in the group to get up, cross the room and give that girl a hug.  Wow.  Compassion.

Sheri and the others showed me what it should be like when we worship the Lord!  Loud, joyful praise to our savior!  And oh, does she love the Lord.  I thought while praising the Lord that week, that this is what it will be like in heaven.

Well, all except I've grown up thinking that everyone will be perfect in heaven.  No more physical, mental, emotional disabilities.  And yet, sometimes I wonder.  Aren't these precious ones already perfect? I mean, God made them.  Created them in his image and without mistake.  Hmm.  So, my previous percieved ideas on heaven may be a bit cloudy now.