50th Anniversary Reflections

During July, Joni is reflecting on the past 5 decades of God’s faithfulness following her 1967 diving accident.

Decade 1: 1967-1976

I have so many memories surrounding the day I broke my neck diving into the Chesapeake Bay. There were lots of “what if’s.” First, I should’ve attended my 2-year-old niece’s birthday party that day – but Jayme’s party was way across town, so I chose not to go. Instead, I called a friend that morning to ask if he’d like to play tennis. I was all dressed and ready to go, when he called back and had to cancel. I was perturbed; there I sat in our backyard on a perfect Saturday afternoon with no plans. It was too late to join my sister Kathy and her boyfriend who already left to go swimming at the Bay. Just as I started to go back in the house, Kathy drove up – she had forgotten her handbag. When she saw me, she called, “Want to go with us?!” On a whim, I grabbed my swimsuit and hopped into the back seat of her Volkswagen.

How was I to know I was driving off for a date with destiny?! There were so many “what if’s” about that day; like, what if Kathy had remembered her handbag in the first place? I never would have gone swimming! Looking back now, 50 years later, I realize God had orchestrated every event on that fateful day. And maybe it’s why, even now when July 30 rolls around (Jayme’s birthday), my niece and I have a little tradition. I call her to wish her a happy birthday (she’s 52 this year), and she scolds me with a smile, “See, Aunt Joni? You should’ve come to my birthday party!” 🙂

I treasure another special memory from the 70s. I had worked hard putting together the manuscript for the Joni book, and after it went off to the publisher, I couldn’t wait to see the finished product!
Me, write a book? What a wonderful opportunity for a 24-year-old like me! Months later, I was anxiously awaiting the first hot-off-the-press copy that would soon be arriving in our mailbox. A day or two later, a young girl with a disability came with her mother to our farmhouse – they wanted to talk with me about how I adjusted to my wheelchair. As we conversed in serious tones, I spotted the mailman deliver a package to our front door. My sister excitedly came in, showing us the brand-new Joni book. “I’ll look at it later,” I smiled at her. And I meant it. What was important at that moment was this depressed young girl, not a book I had written. Hours later after the girl and her mom left, I had a chance to enjoy looking through my first book. I also felt I had done “the right thing,” and it would be a lesson I would remember for years to come: the people God puts in front of us to minister to are far more important than anything else at that moment.

Be sure to check Joni’s blog each Sunday this month for more reflections on God’s faithfulness over the past 50 years!