Living life beyond Cerebral Palsy for God's glory.

Posts tagged ‘death’

Mom’s Tribute

On November 26, 2019, my world was rocked. My mother was taken home to be with Jesus.  This was my tribute to her. It was read at her funeral.

 

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” (Proverbs 31:28-29 NLT)

We met when she was 21. She was an ordinary person, but her smile would warm up the coldest day. She loved chocolate, ice cream, black coffee, and making things with her hands. She always made time to listen and help others.

She knew nothing about Cerebral Palsy, but she was willing to learn. She pushed me to work hard, but at the same time, she accepted my limitations and loved me for who I was.  When the world told me I could not succeed, she told me to try.  Mom would not let me use the words, “I can’t.”  She made me try everything at least once.  Sometimes her friends would get upset with her because she wouldn’t help me, but her perseverance made me who I am today.

Even before my sports career began, she was my biggest cheerleader! She was always encouraging and pushing me to go further. Even my staff gets frustrated with me because they want to help me, but because of my mom, I am determined to do things on my own as much as I possibly can.

She took me to Pioneer Girls at our church. I loved to earn badges, but I was concerned I could not get my hiking badge. But she made sure I could by carrying me on her back through the woods with the other girls. Then I had to light a fire to finish the badge. The other leaders said not to worry about lighting the fire, but Mom insisted that I would do it if I wanted to complete the requirements. She got me to hold the match in my front teeth and brought the box up close so I could strike it. Then I leaned down, dropping the match on the paper and the fire was lit.

Mom looked after me every day for the first 25 years of my life: getting me up and dressed every morning, bathing me, feeding me, getting me ready for bed. She could not call in sick. The doctors told her to give me up and put me in an institution, but she would not.

Mom had a sense of humour. She wanted me to experience life. One morning when she was getting me out of bed (I am not a morning person), she sat me on the toilet with the seat up, which resulted in me plunging into the cold water, waking me up rather abruptly. When I looked at her with a questioning shocked look, she just laughed and said, “I just thought you should experience this!”

Mom travelled to many of my sports events. The biggest event was the 1984 Paralympics in New York, where she proudly carried around the Canadian Flag. During the wheelchair soccer game that I was playing in, she was interviewed on TSN. To this day, I don’t know what she said, but that interview was a highlight of this trip for her.

On Tuesday God called Mom home. She has left a big hole in our family and in my heart, but I know she is with her Saviour and Lord.

Thanks, Mom. You’re the best! See you soon.

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Cerebral Palsy, living beyond my circumstances, Love, Thankfulness

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Jay

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom”

(Psalm 90:12 ESV)

 

JAY

            It was September 1977 and life was exciting and scary all at the same time. I was in my first year of high school, I received my first power wheelchair, and our family had started going to a new church.

I started going to youth group at church. It was a fun time to be meeting others my age, but it was a bit intimidating being the only one in a wheelchair. Some people would not talk to me, afraid of the unknown. There were some people who looked beyond my wheelchair and got to know me as a person. One of those people was Jay.

Jay was a good friend. He saw me as a person, not a wheelchair. If there was an event going on he would take me and he would pop my chair in his car after lifting me in. I never felt like a burden for him. Even in high school, Jay put Jesus first in his life. He had a part-time job at our church as a custodian, and one Saturday evening after youth group, a few of us were waiting for Jay to drive us home after he closed up the church. He bounded down the stairs to tell us he was almost done. He wanted to check the baptistery tank, as there were some baptisms Sunday morning. Five minutes later he was sloshing down the steps, wet from the knees down. He started to explain: “It looked so clear I didn’t think there was any water in it.” We all laughed as we got in his car to be driven home by a wet driver.

Jay went on to be a teacher. He married and had three children. Life was busy as we went different directions, but in January 2015 Jay emailed me to see if I would speak at his church for their Father/Daughter banquet. On May 8 Katie drove me to Hamilton to speak at this event. That evening I watched as Jay helped set up, organize, and run the event, I realized he was still very dedicated to his Saviour Jesus. You could see it in his face and hear it in his voice. It was an honour to be a guest speaker at this banquet. I had the privilege of meeting and chatting with his beautiful and only daughter.

December 2, 2015, on Jay’s way home from teaching, he was hit by a car and killed. I know Jay is in heaven with Jesus, not because he was good but because he knew Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

You can know Jesus too. He died for you many years ago on Good Friday. Seek Him while you have life and breath.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 ESV)

 

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Devotions

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Deciding to do Nothing

“Then he said to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’” (Matthew 22:21 ESV).

 

Sometimes by not choosing we have made a decision.

This time of year I do tax returns for many friends and family members. Most bring me their pile of receipts hoping for a refund. If I have done their return before, I gave some tips for the following year. No one likes to pay taxes. I usually suggest they get more tax taken off and make some donations so they can receive a receipt as this will help lower what they need to pay. You have to pay someone, so make it a charity of your choice or pay our government. Some take my recommendations, but more often others do not. They have many excuses: I did not have time; I did not have enough money; I could not decide what to do. There are endless justifications.

This year is no different. I have to break the news that they do not want to hear: “You owe the government money.” Those who did what I recommended have a better return. Why do we think if we ignore the problem it will go away? Dealing with your income and taxes is important to keep in check, but it is not a life or death choice.

There is another issue that people like to just disregard: the decision of what to do with Jesus. Good Friday is set aside for us who believe in Jesus to remember the ultimate price He paid for our sin. Jesus died a very public, humiliating death. He was nailed to a cross for all to see. You ask why would I care if you do not know Jesus as your friend and saviour? Jesus died for you and me. You see, we are sinners and He was not. He died so people like you and I could be saved from eternal torment. If He was willing to die for us, then people like you need to know.

 

Take time this Easter weekend to read the account of Jesus’ crucifixion in the book of John in the Bible and take time to decide what you will do with Jesus. This is one decision that will make or break your eternal destiny.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 ESV).

 

 

 

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Devotions, Love

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