When our son was but a wee lad of two, he became a victim of polio. He was sentenced to braces, corsets, crutches and a wheel chair. When polio struck, he launched a counter-attack of his own. He began to sing, and he has been singing ever since. It was not so bad until he began to make up his own songs. He even composed his own tunes. One day, when he was about five, he was lying on the couch and he began to sing a new song:

“When I get to heaven,
You know what I’m going to do?
I’m going to run up the stairs,
Then down the stairs…”

Then he paused and called out, “Dad, any crippled boys in heaven?” “Nope,” was my casual reassurance.

It was then that I heard him sign, “Boy, I wish I could hurry up and go there.”

A few years later, while at a meeting in East Texas, I related this incident to an evening audience. JOY HAGSTROM was inspired to write the following words:

“One day I saw a crippled boy watching the children playing ball.
I had to blink the tears away in answer to his call.
“Hey mister, if you’ve got some time would you sit down and talk?
I’d like to run and play with them, but I just can’t walk.”

“I’d like to chase the ball a mile, or climb that hollow tree;
Or swim down in the swimming hole, or take a hike you see.
Well, one day I’ll do those things, without a thought of care;
mister, when I get to heaven, there ain’t no cripples there.

I’ll go swimming in the river, and climb that hollow tree;
I’ll hike along the golden streets throughout eternity.
But now I’ll just watch the children, as they run and jump at play;
And know that I’ll be like them, when I get home someday.”

In one way or another we are all cripples. The only difference is some are forced to wear braces on the outside. Yet, Jesus loves us in spite of the deformities of the flesh, or the infirmities of the spirit. That is what salvation is all about. There is a better place for which we sigh, a deeper peace for which we seek, a great love for which we long. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be anymore pain; for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

“No cripples there – boy, I wish I could hurry up and go there.”
(Page 40-41 “Fables for Today” by Jack Exum)

Marvelous is the thought of one day finally arriving home! Heaven bound!
Grow in grace!