Those were the words that were forming in my mind recently when Awana received a request from Joni for an endorsement for a new children’s book she has written about heaven. Just at a time when I am thinking about her, Joni’s request for an endorsement comes across my desk. Is that a coincidence?
Here’s a little background on Joni. She is my age…a Baby Boomer. She has been a quadriplegic since a tragic diving accident in her teens. But despite that huge loss, for decades now she has been a faithful witness to God’s love. She suffers. We can see that, but in the midst of her limitations, she sings hymns of hope. She paints, holding the paintbrush in her mouth, and shushes our interior voices of, “But I can’t do that!” Her writing gives glory and credit for overcoming a lifetime of hurdles to God. She is strong even while she is forced to live humbly dependent on those around her for basic life care. Her life could have been shattered, but instead, she shone like a gem, a rare exquisite gift to all of us.
As I read her book, The Awesome Super Forever Party, I thought that heaven must hold a lifetime of hope for her. And like many of us, she must sense that eternity is near.
But my gratefulness to Joni has to do with something else she did. Something other people may not know. Joni broke the glass ceiling for the use of women’s spiritual gifts…especially speaking, writing and leadership. You see, she spoke the gospel in alto and by doing so, she gave more opportunity for other women (like me) to use our leadership and writing and speaking gifts. The gospel in alto, the gospel in soprano is still the gospel.
I have been the “first” woman to speak and deliver a message from the pulpits of many churches…often under high scrutiny and expressed skepticism—after all I held no seminary degree or ordination. My generation of Christian women leaders were almost all outliers. Thank God that’s changing.
But, honestly, I carry bite marks from being the “first.”
· The pastor who whispered to me as I passed him on the way to speak the Sunday message in his pulpit, “Make it short. I want time for my message too this morning.” Ouch!
· The pastor who rewrote my message and changed the title from “Raising Kids in Scary Times” (too negative he said) to “Raising Christian Kids Today.” (It was changed back when 33 people were killed in the Virginia Tech shootings a few miles from this church and just a few days before I was to speak.)
· The opportunities not offered. The invitations never made. The ignoring of who God had made me to be and the role I was meant to play in the Kingdom.
But there is Joni…faithful, joyful and strong, assuring a transitioning church that God’s gifts to the kingdom included those He had given to women. Sometimes I envied the ease at which she was accepted, given a platform and ministry. Did she have any bite marks? Without question, for sure. But likely, because of her overwhelming circumstances, any bite marks were put into perspective.
And so I wrote an endorsement hoping she will feel the love all of us have for her in my words:
With exuberance and high anticipation, Joni Eareckson Tada, embraces heaven. Her words describe a new heaven, a new perfect earth, a new me, and Jesus as King! This Biblically inspired book belongs on every child’s bookshelf as well as on every nursing home bedside table. Read it to someone you love and then keep your dancing shoes nearby. You will feel like putting your arms around each other and celebrating God’s love for eternity.
.And so Joni, from the bottom of my heart on behalf of Christ-following men and women all across this country and around the world, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!
Only eternity will reveal the huge impact you have had on the Kingdom. And on me. Thank you!
Valerie Bell
Awana/CEO
Thanksgiving 2021