Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee

In September, I was confronted with the idea of running for Ms.Wheelchair Tn.  My immediate reaction was, "Are you crazy? I just turned 65 years old!"  Besides, I wasn't even aware there was such a thing.  But it was explained to me that it was not a beauty contest and there was no age limit.  You would be a spokesperson and bring awareness of the wheelchair community. With a promise to think and pray about it, I went on my merry way.

I did pray about it, only because the LORD would NOT LET IT GO! I would try and try to set it on the back burner and HE kept moving it to the front.  So I would pray.  I needed a platform.  I had no platform.  What did I ever need a platform for?  So once again I would dismiss this whole idea.  But God was drawing me to it.  It's as if He said, "I'm not sending you to win, I'm sending you for another reason."
Another reason? What other reason?
But my faith started to kick in and I found myself filling out an application 3 days before the deadline.

Now I began praying for a platform.  "Lord, if you want me to do this, you're going to need to give me a passion for something wheelchair related."  Well it wasn't hard to see where He was leading me. I have always loved helping people who have found themselves suddenly disabled.  I love giving them "tricks of the trade", so to speak.  There was my platform, to mentor and encourage young people who have found themselves suddenly put in a wheelchair, either by war, accident or illness.  I want to visit VA and rehab centers to inspire them to reach for their dreams.  By sharing my life experiences with them, I think they could see the possibilities.  Being Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee would give me the credibility to be able to do that.

So two weeks later, I found myself in Knoxville, Tn. at the Ms. Wheelchair Tn. pageant.  Friday night we met with a speech coach.  After I got back to my room I received a phone call from a very good friend in Illinois.  Although, she wasn't in Illinois, she was in Indianapolis on her way to Knoxville and she had people with her.  I figured it was a couple more girls from high school.  It turned out to be her parents who were very special to me growing up. Her dad had polio also and we had a very special bond. If you follow my blog and refer back to the piano bench story, you will know how special this couple is to me. They made my weekend!!!!

I did not win this contest but I knew I would not.  I did win Ms Congeniality, which is decided by the other contestants and I was the Peoples Choice.  This award was given by people going online and voting.  It was $1 per vote.  So both of these awards are very special to me.

So why did the Lord send me, you ask?  I may never know for sure.  But I was able to be a witness to others and I tried my best to encourage others as well. I made wonderful friends.  Lifelong friends. These women are in wheelchairs too.  I really didn't have any friends like me. One of those precious friends is the current Ms Wheelchair America.  Guess where we went 3 days after the pageant? Siskin Rehab Hospital.  It was so much fun.  I love her for doing that for me.  The new Ms. Wheelchair Tn. has told me she would go with me to some VA hospitals also. So that is exciting.

It was a great experience.  If nothing else, I want to be an example to my granddaughters and nieces that they need to spread their wings and soar like eagles.  When God says go, they need to go.  He has wonderful surprises for you.  Things that you would never imagine on your own.

NO GREATER HONOR THEN TO BE USED OF GOD

Eleven days ago, my cousin and her family set out from Bloomington, Ill. to Miami, Fl.  They had been caring for a two year old little Haitian girl, while her grandfather was gravely ill in a hospital in Miami. Unfortunately for those who knew and loved him, he passed on.  Shelly and Mike knew they were called to safely deliver this little girl to her family in time for the funeral. Driving her seemed to be the only option. Trying to get ahead of Storm Thor, they left Wednesday after work.

The plan was for them to overnight here in Tennessee Thursday evening on the way and then Monday on their way home. On the way, those plans never became a reality. You see, Thor blew in and laid snow and ice in their path, lots of it.  I received a text that they were stopping for the night in southern Illinois. The weather was getting really nasty.  Thursday morning they were greeted with the news that Interstate 24 was closed in Ky. due to 3 jackknifed tractor trailers and hundreds of stranded vehicles. At noon they were told the road would be open.  Waiting patiently, they began their journey on ice laid roads spending over nine hours on the highway in Kentucky going literally nowhere. Keeping in constant communication with them all day and night, I felt like I was trapped in the car with them.  I could feel their frustration as they tried to do what God intended for them to do yet not understanding the "roadblocks" along the way.  At 8:52 PM they crossed the Tennessee line. The road was clear.  Hallelujah.  We decided they should pull off for the night near Nashville and get an early start in the morning. But the roads in Tn. turned ugly and yet again they were inching their way to safety. At 11:21 PM they were finally able to pull off in Nashville.

Friday morning - Yet another delay.  Roads were bad to Chattanooga.  Waiting till 10:00 AM to leave, here is Shelly's text " If we left now we would only be stuck in traffic and this will give us a better chance I hope.  So frustrating that we left 2 days ago and are only 6 hours from home.lol"

THE WHY OF IT ALL.....At 12:10 PM Eastern time, this is her text. "Just got to Chattanooga and got a call from our friend who asked if we were anywhere close to Atlanta. His wife and daughter missed their flight to Miami for the same funeral and they are at the Atlanta airport. THAT IS WHY WE GOT STUCK IN THE STORM! God knew it wasn't about us!! We are on our way to the airport to pick them up.  God is so sovereign."

I can think of no greater honor then to be used to answer someones prayers.

Shelly - "Isn't it cool when God lets you see the why?"

They were trying so hard to obey God every step of the way. Just because we obey, doesn't mean it will be easy.  She says "He has rewarded our leap of faith with protection". Amen to that.

They arrived at 2:45 AM Saturday morning and the funeral was at 10:00 AM.  They had made it. 

GRANDMA MABEL'S PRAYER

GRANDMA MABEL'S PRAYER

I know you're probably shocked that I have posted on my blog.  It's been two years.  There are many reasons for that I won't go into now.   However, I heard a song the other day that so blessed my heart and reminded me so very much of my grandmother that I have re-titled the song "GRANDMA'S PRAYER" and I just couldn't wait to share what was on my heart.  The real name of the song is "I WANNA BE THERE" by The Isaacs.  You will love it.

I have shared with you before, I think, how much my grandmother was determined to see me walk before her death.  She prayed for this daily and her and my grandfather took me all over this country to faith-healers in their effort to help God out.  (As if God needs a faith-healer).  But I endured this for her till I was seventeen.  My grandmother was a Godly woman and actually led me to the Lord at age seven.  She was a woman of great faith yet could not see God's plan for me.  She wanted her plan and God said "No".  I know His plan for me is to bring glory to Him and I am happy with that.  The fact that God would allow me, a little crippled girl from Normal, Il., to help and inspire others.  To let me share my joy with them and allow them to see the light of God's love in my eyes is overwhelming.  I don't think, "Why God did you allow this to happen to me?" but "Why God do you trust me enough to be used for your Glory".  Sometimes my feelings of unworthiness are so consuming that I just burst into tears. "Why was I chosen for such an honorable task?"

Is there something you pray for everyday?  Something you want God to answer before your death because you wanna be there when it happens.  I know I do.   There is someone I pray to get right with the Lord everyday of my life.  I so want to see that happen.  God has spared his life so many times and I feel certain that God has a work for him to do if he would just turn away from his old life and be a new man in Christ Jesus.  Well my friends, keep praying.  Those prayers are not in vain.  God hears you and loves you and His will be done.

Now hear are the words to the verse that so touched me and reminded me of my grandma.

I KNOW A GIRL WITH A HEART OF AN ANGEL, 

THE PRETTIEST SMILE YOU'VE EVER SEEN.

ALL HER LIFE SHE'S ALWAYS DREAMED OF WALKING.  

FOLDING UP THAT WHEELCHAIR AND BEING FREE.

SHE LOVES TO HEAR THE STORY OF HOW JESUS HEALED THE LAME MAN

AND SHE KNOWS ONE DAY SHE'S GOING TO WALK LIKE HE CAN.

I WANNA BE THERE WHEN SHE DOES.

WHEN ALL OF HEAVEN WITNESSES THE FIRST TIME THAT SHE RUNS.

FAITH BECOMES REALITY AND SHE CAN LIVE THE LIFE SHE'S DREAMING OF.

I WANNA BE THERE WHEN SHE DOES.

Thank you Grandma for your prayers.