Iron Lung Soul-Winner

In 1948 at the age of 17 Joan contracted polio. She came from a wealthy, affluent family in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her parents personally knew many of the corporate and political leaders in America. At that time there were not a lot of creative and comprehensive communities in America for handicapped people. As a result Joan was placed in an old-age home at 17. She was paralyzed from her neck down and was to live the rest of her life in an iron lung.

But she had a vision. Her handicap of the body could not shackle her mind. So she began to type by putting a typing stick in her mouth. And she began to paint by holding the paintbrush between her teeth. Yet even still she sensed that there was something missing from her life. She had a hunger for the Bible. So she began studying it. Hour after hour she would lay on her back with her Bible above her on a platform specially made. She learned to turn her pages with her tongue. Then she heard some presentations on witnessing and decided that God wanted her to do something from her iron lung. She asked the pastor to bring her some Bible study lessons. Now remember, she couldn’t use her hands. She was paralyzed from her neck down. But she had someone turn the pages for her and write down the answers. She began to encourage others to take the lessons. And from her iron lung she began studies with 12 people. She sensed that teaching was a gift that God gave her. And from her iron lung this feeble member of God’s body ministered to scores of others.

Is Anything Too Hard for God?