Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Shana: It's a beautiful day here in Southern California. Joni, how are you feeling on this wonderful sunny day?

Joni Eareckson Tada: Doing great. Coming into the office this morning, I was so blessed. I don't know if you heard them, but as I came through the door, I could hear the birds singing up in the tree. It sounded like they were singing praises to God. It was as though they just couldn't contain themselves. Sweet, sweet little bird notes. It was beautiful.

Shana: There's something special in the air this morning. I almost wonder if those birds were singing Psalm 150: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Absolutely. Every time I think of Psalm 150, I think of my friend Andrew, who I met at Family Retreat many years ago.

Joni Eareckson Tada: Well, you’ve got to tell me about him.

Shana: I’m happy to do so, Joni. Andrew had a very severe case of cerebral palsy. He used a power wheelchair to get around. He really couldn't use his body much. He could talk a little bit, but those who were listening to him had a very hard time understanding him, and I knew that was frustrating for Andrew.

Over time, Andrew's disability became more and more of a challenge and he was able to control less and less of his body. But he never let his suffering or his disability get in the way of praising the Lord. In fact, during talent night at Family Retreat, Andrew had the chance every time to lead worship.

Joni Eareckson Tada: Tell me how he would do that.

Shana: You know that little musical instrument, the triangle?

Joni Eareckson Tada: I had one of those in elementary school. Little dingy-dingy-ding thing.

Shana: Exactly. Somebody would hold that up for Andrew and they would put the wand to the triangle in between the toes of his right foot.

Joni Eareckson Tada: Wait a minute, I have to imagine this. So he's in his wheelchair and Andrew has his foot up and somebody puts the little wand in between his toes?

Shana: You got it. His right foot was really the only part of his body he had total control over, and so that's where the wand went. Somebody would hold the triangle nearby and Andrew would play the musical instrument and lead worship for all of us.

We've heard about praising the Lord with our mouths, but Andrew taught us you can praise the Lord with your toes. He also taught us that no matter what our suffering or what we're going through, there is always a reason to praise God. As the mom of a child with severe disabilities myself, I always needed to hear that.

Joni Eareckson Tada: What happened to Andrew?

Shana: When Andrew was just 10 years old, the Lord decided to take him home to heaven. That was a few years ago now, but there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about my friend Andrew and the beautiful way he taught me that there's always a reason to praise the Lord.

I still can't hear or even think about Psalm 150 without picturing Andrew leading worship. Psalm 150 says, “Praise Him for His mighty works; praise His unequal greatness; praise Him with the blast of the ram's horn; praise Him with the harp.” I think it could even say, “Praise Him with the triangle.”

Joni Eareckson Tada: I love that. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Shana, do you happen to have a photo of Andrew that we could see?

Shana: I do, Joni. I've got a great picture of Andrew and I'd be so happy to share that with you. You make me think of just how important Family Retreat really is. Friend, if you're checking us out to see that picture of Andrew, I hope you'll check out the opportunities you might have to serve at Family Retreat because, who knows, you could hold the triangle for somebody just like Andrew.

Joni Eareckson Tada: I love it. You can find out all the details about how you can serve at Family Retreat just by visiting us at joniradio.org.