Heart For The Disabled - Anna Turpin

            AL:  With Joni Eareckson Tada as our daily radio host we need to do an important recap as we open today's broadcast of Joni and Friends. This has been a great week of Christian encouragement as many hundreds of our listeners have written notes to disabled friends with whom we've ministered to this past year.  Friends like Charlotte Sherman who is 92 and lives in a nursing home... and the Hopson family, Bill and Deborah with their 8 children... and yesterday we learned about Greg and Laura from Florida.  It is wonderful to picture these friends opening up their mailbox on Valentine's Day in just a couple of weeks and finding it jam-packed full of cards and letters from people who will be praying that the Lord Jesus will pour grace-upon-grace on the needs of these families affected by disability.

            JONI:  That's right, Al.  Today I want our listeners to learn about Anna Turpin who I met last year at Family Retreat.  Anna has two children - Jeremy who is 11 years old has autism and he can be quite a handful at times; and then there's Hailey who is 13 years old and, well... you know how that goes being 13!  They were scholarshipped to come to Family Retreat last summer - you see, their father had left the family and dear Anna is trying to hold everything together by her fingers and toes.  The kids are really struggling with the fact that their dad is no longer there...

            AL:  That's more common than we realize among families with disabled children, right? 

            JONI:  Unfortunately, it is true.  So many husbands just can't handle it.  They go into marriage never expecting that they will father a son with a significant disability.  And, unfortunately, many husbands just check out of the marriage.  The divorce rate among families affected by disability is near 80%. 

            AL: ... Eighty percent!  I can imagine Anna is trying to deal with her own disappointments and heartache, at the same time trying to deal with her children's resentments, plus also deal with her son's disability. 

            JONI:  And that's not all, Al.  Anna was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Talk about one problem after the next.  This is why I know Anna would be so blessed to receive Valentine cards from friends who are listening right now.  Maybe you can have your own child color or crayon a greeting to Jeremy, her 11 year old with autism; or maybe if you have a preteen or a teenager have her jot a note to Hailey who is 13 years old... or, maybe just write their mother, Anna, a few uplifting words.  Please jot this family a reminder that the Lord Jesus hasn't forgotten them.  That He is in control, that His grace will help them through all their challenges.  Maybe you could share a few favorite scriptures or maybe a poem, or a copy of your favorite hymn.  You've had bad days, times of disappointment... you can identify with some of the struggles Anna and her children are facing.  And scripture says we can comfort anyone in any trouble with the comfort we've received from God.  Right, Al?

            AL:  Exactly, Joni.  This is one I really want to write.  I'll write to each one, of course, but especially to Anna and her family.  And I know that she and her children must have had a great time of spiritual refreshment and fun at last year's Family Retreat.  Thank you for ministering to families like hers!   

            JONI:  Thank you, Al.  The people whose stories we've shared this week... I know that every single person I've mentioned the last several days would love to know that there are a lot of folks out there right now who are praying for them, especially for Anna Turpin who is facing that brain tumor, wow!  So please write your letter today.  Make certain that the mailbox outside Anna Turpin's house is overflowing with cards of encouragement on February 14^th. 

            AL:  And Joni just let me slip in here long enough to give our mailing address for listeners.  It's P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, California, 91376.  It won't be complete without your note.  Thanks for joining Heart for the Disabled.

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