I talked with Daddy about aiming for "wheelchair ministry" lifestyle, and he seemed real positive about it, starting to exercise his arms, turning them around and around in the motion of operating a wheelchair. He'd been told (I may be all wrong, but this is what I told him) he'd have to eat more and gain muscle-strength in his arms and hands to get wheelchair mobility, and he wanted to ask rehab to help him start doing whatever was necessary to go in that direction. "LIVING sacrifice" was what God would be pleased with, and altho' it would be hard on pride for athletes to sit in a wheelchair, I believed Daddy could have an unstoppable ministry if he were willing to let himself be limited in this way.
Daddy strengthening his arms
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| Daddy was friends with everyone |
Daddy used to say, "People need cheer every day." As a patient, he could be the first one to reach out and shake the hand of a medical worker, saying, "You folks know that we, who don't know anything, are completely dependent on people like you to help us, don't you?" He would never miss the orderly or housecleaner to give a word of appreciation for how pleasant and comfortable they were making his stay. Nurses, caretakers, hospital personnel were seen as people, not paid servants--Daddy always asked to know their names.
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| Daddy at rehabilitation |
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today" (Heb. 3:13) Many of us are guilty of the sin of omission. Daddy didn't want to be guilty of it, at least during the end of his earthly life. Christians may speak of making sacrifices for God, serving Christ, giving their lives for the Kingdom...but what about simply walking today as Jesus walked: (I Jn 2:6), daily giving a word of encouragement here, a word of cheer there...or is "wheelchair ministry" beneath the dignity of most of us, and we'd rather do something more exciting, demanding, impressive, praiseworthy?
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| smiling patient |
