Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Guest (Male): Welcome to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Here is a beautiful summertime hymn Joni used to sing with her mother. Listen in and be blessed.

Joni Eareckson Tada & Guest (Male): Brightly beams our Father's mercy from His lighthouse evermore, but to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore. Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave! Some poor fainting, struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save.

Joni Eareckson Tada: Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada, and I saw my mother yesterday. I guess I better explain that statement right now, because you probably know that my mother, Lindy Eareckson, passed away back in 2001, years ago. But yesterday I saw her. You see, my cousin Eddie had sent me an email with seven or eight old family photos, and one of them was my mom standing by her bicycle. I'd never seen this one before. She had turned to smile at the camera, and looking at her face, seeing that smile, oh my goodness, it was me. She looked just like me, or I should say I look just like her.

When we turned the photo over and saw that the date was 1940 on the photo, I realized that Mom was only 26 years old. I guess I can't really say I look exactly like her, not now at my age, but still, it gave me a start. It also gave me a great chance to reply to Eddie to share some of my favorite memories of Lindy Eareckson. My mom was my first tennis teacher. But when I walked on the clay court in my cut-offs and crop-top blouse holding my tennis racket, Lindy told me in no uncertain terms that the next time you walk onto the court, young woman, be dressed in proper tennis garb: white blouse, white tennis skirt, white tennis shoes.

I thought at the time that was so dumb, but it was just one small way my mother instilled discipline into my life. I liked that about her. I liked that she was orderly and tidy and insisted that when I stacked towels, only the folded edge must show. But it wasn't just this kind of discipline. Lindy always challenged me in memorizing hymns. She loved the old Lutheran hymns, and I scrambled to keep up with all her verses when the family would sing together, especially around our campfire on the beach.

We would sing around the table after dinner, or always, always we would sing in the car going on a road trip. Mom reminds me of Deuteronomy chapter 11, verse 19, where it says, "Teach God's commands to your children. Talk about them when you're at home and when you're on the road, when you're going to bed and when you're getting up." I could add to that verse: when you sing together. Teach God's ways when you sing with your children.

Guest (Male): Listening friend, we would love for you to see that photo of Joni's mom. And while you're at it, pick up a copy of one of her best recipes, her Maryland crab cakes. It's all there for you at joniradio.org. The words to the old hymn, "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning," are also there. It's one Joni would often sing with her mother around the beach campfire.

Go see that photo today and pick up the recipe at joniradio.org. Again, it's there for you at joniradio.org. God bless you, friend, and keep singing God's commands.