Courageous Grace
by Joni Eareckson Tada
"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and hear and put their trust in God."
Psalm 40: 3
It was talent night at one of our Family Retreats, and Cindy, a young woman with severe cerebral palsy, was the last one scheduled to perform. Cindy's mother pushed her daughter in her wheelchair out onto the platform. Cindy, she told us, had been working hard all week on her song... Amazing Grace. But how was this going to work? Because of her disability, Cindy couldn't speak. Then her mother walked off stage and left Cindy alone. The young woman laboriously stretched out her twisted fingers and pushed a button on her communication device attached to her chair. And out came the monotone computerized voice, Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
As the computer continued the hymn, Cindy turned her head to face us, the audience, and with enormous effort, began to mouth all the words, as best she could. What's more, her smile lit up the entire place. It was a performance that any opera star or top Christian recording artist would envy. Amazing grace is not a new song, but that night, it was sung in an entirely new way. Although Cindy was unable to sing the words, it rose up as a ringing hymn of praise to God. I can imagine the angels leaning over the edge of heaven, filled with wonder, to catch every word.
*********
In some parts of the world today, people risk their very lives to praise Jesus in public. And there are men and women like Cindy, who unashamedly lift up his name with physical and emotional difficulty we can't begin to understand. The question is, if we are so easily able to praise the name of Jesus without physical struggle or fear of reprisal... why don't we?
Thank you, Lord for the courageous example of this young woman who declared your praise even when it was very difficult. Teach me, Lord, from her example.
"Bear with each other and forgive one
another if any of you has a grievance
against someone. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you."
Colossians 3: 13
A Thought:
Happiness always looks small while
you hold it in your hands, but let it
"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and hear and put their trust in God."
Psalm 40: 3
It was talent night at one of our Family Retreats, and Cindy, a young woman with severe cerebral palsy, was the last one scheduled to perform. Cindy's mother pushed her daughter in her wheelchair out onto the platform. Cindy, she told us, had been working hard all week on her song... Amazing Grace. But how was this going to work? Because of her disability, Cindy couldn't speak. Then her mother walked off stage and left Cindy alone. The young woman laboriously stretched out her twisted fingers and pushed a button on her communication device attached to her chair. And out came the monotone computerized voice, Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
As the computer continued the hymn, Cindy turned her head to face us, the audience, and with enormous effort, began to mouth all the words, as best she could. What's more, her smile lit up the entire place. It was a performance that any opera star or top Christian recording artist would envy. Amazing grace is not a new song, but that night, it was sung in an entirely new way. Although Cindy was unable to sing the words, it rose up as a ringing hymn of praise to God. I can imagine the angels leaning over the edge of heaven, filled with wonder, to catch every word.
*********
In some parts of the world today, people risk their very lives to praise Jesus in public. And there are men and women like Cindy, who unashamedly lift up his name with physical and emotional difficulty we can't begin to understand. The question is, if we are so easily able to praise the name of Jesus without physical struggle or fear of reprisal... why don't we?
Thank you, Lord for the courageous example of this young woman who declared your praise even when it was very difficult. Teach me, Lord, from her example.
"Bear with each other and forgive one
another if any of you has a grievance
against someone. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you."
Colossians 3: 13
A Thought:
Happiness always looks small while
you hold it in your hands, but let it


