Christian Living

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The Courage To Be Joyful
© 2007

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Resting in the area around the J.C. Penney Department Store in the Shawnee, Oklahoma Mall, Charles Franklin became angry and argumentative. He had to wait for his wife to complete her shopping for clothing. The plethora of people passing his location did not help either. Fussy preschool age children were in open rebellion against their parent or parents. Teenage youth were disagreeing with their mothers of fathers about the purchase of a particular style that one or the other disagreed with. So for an afternoon, it seemed, Shawnee had its sour disposition in play. Their behavior and expressions seemed to match Charles’ mood.

Then a young mother with her three or four year old daughter came of Penney’s. She appeared to be the happiest mother Charles had ever seen. Not once since Charles caught sight of her did she not wear a smile. And her daughter was wondrously cheerful and seemingly happy. As mother and daughter left the store, they appeared to be unaware of the people around them.

The young woman was confined to a wheelchair and carried her daughter on her lap. Although paralyzed from the waist down, she managed the chair and her daughter without assistance. She maneuvered them outside the store. Once outside Penney’s, she began to start—stop—spin then stop activities. For about 10 minutes, mother and child went round and round. When the mother went forward, she stopped the wheelchair quickly then started it again. The little girl laughed out loud. She seemed to thoroughly enjoy the ride as did her mother who provided the entertainment. It was as if the little girl was saying: ”Hey everybody! Look at my mom! Isn’t she fantastic! Isn’t she neat! I love my mom even though she’s different from everyone!”

After this entertaining display, the mother and daughter disappeared into the crowd of mall shopper. When Charles’ wife joined him, he was still smiling and chuckling over the events he had witnessed. Charles then said a prayer of thanksgiving for the woman and her child whose happiness and joy changed his attitude about these Godly gifts forever!

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