Judy Siegle

Note: Last week I introduced a new series called Turning the Tapestry.  Once a month I will be featuring a guest blogger who is connected to disability in some way to share how they have seen God at work in the midst of the challenges they face.  This month, I am honored to introduce you to Judy Siegle.  I hope you are encouraged by what she has to share. 

Jenny asked me to share a little bit about how I have seen God at work in the midst of my paralysis. Wow. Where do I begin? It was thirty-three years ago, the summer after I graduated from high school, that I was involved in the car accident that left me a quadriplegic. Life as I had known it came to a screeching halt!   Although I had faith in God, for the most part I had no idea what this was going to mean for my life. I discovered that going with God was to be the greatest adventure I could ever imagine!   

In addition to a spinal cord injury, I sustained a mild traumatic brain injury in the accident, which was a blessing. With my memory coming back gradually, there wasn't the sudden blow of being able-bodied one moment -- to looking at life in the wheelchair in the next moment. While my days were positive – my nights were interrupted with nightmares. I couldn’t understand what was going on, because I knew God was with me. So why the difficult nights?

Judy with her dad, "Dad taught me about the Father's love.  He is my hero!"

Through some words with a pastor, I learned that there were going to be many times that I would be frustrated and possibly even angry at God.  It was okay to cry.   God understands.  He told me to imagine God so close to me that I could beat on His chest with my anger. God could take it!  The conversation with the pastor totally ended my nightmares. In their place, I experienced God’s peace. Even though there was still a huge loss in my heart for several years, as I continued to share my thoughts and grow in my relationship with God -- even sometimes beating on His chest with my anger -- He healed my broken heart.

Over the years, God has taught me many lessons for life through my paralysis.

·         He gives me courage to step out in the development of myself, even though life is going to be very different than I had planned.  Never will I leave you…Heb 13:5

·         He gives me strength to develop my talents and abilities, which moves me from being a back-of-the-pack wheelchair racer to a two-time Paralympian and national record holder. I can do all things through Christ…Phil 4:13

·         He gives me purpose and passion to reach outside myself and serve others.  As a Chair Corps Rep for Wheels for the World, part of the disability ministry of Joni Eareckson Tada, I traveled to Romania, Egypt and Jordan on wheelchair distributions, and organized drives that have collected over 1250 wheelchairs.  One of my favorite weeks of the year is when I volunteer at Joni and Friends’ Family Retreat.  For I know the plans I have for you…Jer 29:11

  

On a trip to Egypt with a Wheels for the World distribution

It has been my striving for independence, as a quadriplegic, that has actually brought me to dependence on God. I have experienced that He is intimately involved in the details of my days and that when I am going with Him, absolutely nothing has to keep me down.  It is THE GREATEST ADVENTURE!

You can read more about Judy by visiting her Website: http://www.judysiegle.com.

Next month Turning the Tapestry will feature thoughts from Krista Horning.