“A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Proverbs 17:22
Wh
at are some outdoor activities you enjoy? How about running and swimming, or climbing and hiking, or skiing and sledding. Today we’ll meet someone who couldn’t enjoy them.
Michelle was a lively little girl who loved to dance, ride horseback, and ski, just like her friends. Her Christian parents raised her to enjoy life to the fullest. But when Michelle turned eight, something went horribly wrong. Her right leg began to swell and caused her much pain. Doctors ran all sorts of tests and tragically discovered that Michelle had a deadly type of bone cancer from which there was little hope of surviving. The doctors knew that to give her any chance at all, her right leg needed to be removed above the knee. “I don’t want to be crippled,” she sobbed. “I want to dance and have fun like the other kids.” But after she thought awhile, she looked at her mom and assured her that Jesus would make it alright.
A few days later, Michelle looked down at her bandaged leg. She cried when she thought of what this would mean for her future. For several days Michelle experienced phantom pains in her leg. These pains make the patient think that the removed limb is still attached. But her battle was not over. A few days later Michelle began chemotherapy treatments. These powerful drugs kill cancer cells but they also cause the patient to become ill. For 18 months the chemotherapy continued until the day came that the doctors pronounced Michelle free from all cancer. During all those months Michelle helped other children who were also having chemotherapy treatments. She cheered them on and told them about her friendship with Jesus.
Sometime later Michelle began experimenting with skiing and skateboarding on one leg. She even entered some sports contests for handicapped people and she won many of the events. Michelle was determined to prove that her handicap wasn’t going to take away her dreams.
Today Michelle is a world-class handicap skier and she is often invited to tell her story of hope and faith. Now a wife and mother, Michelle has started a ministry at her ranch called Haven of Hope. Here children with disabilities are invited to learn how to ride horses and learn about Jesus. Michelle proves to each of us that although we will all meet with what seem to be impossible problems, with the help of Jesus we can continue to walk with God.
Through days of toil when your heart may fail, God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.
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