Illustration of the Gospel

Guest (Female): Welcome to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Today Joni's going to introduce you to her 91-year-old friend Beverly.
Joni Eareckson Tada: She's my hero. Last year, Beverly realized that her family was right; it was time for her to downsize from her large and spacious home that she and her husband had lived in for so long, her deceased husband, and it was time to check herself into an assisted living center. Beverly handled this transition incredibly well because she knows she's a citizen of a heavenly home. And God has extended her life, she knows, so that she might tell others of His love, especially all her elderly friends and neighbors. You have never met a godlier saint who loves the Word, enjoys people, and has a zest for living. The trouble is, Beverly was not in that living center for a month when she confessed to me, "Joni, I have never heard so much complaining. I sit down at the dining table to make friends, and people are complaining about the food, the staff, the coffee. It's so hard. That has been the hardest part of my transition here." Now, who would have blamed this 91-year-old woman if she had decided to sequester herself in her room and spend all her time reading her Bible and her Christian biographies? But Beverly knew that God had sent her to this facility to be His witness. And so, she started what she called Sunday Afternoon Reflections, kind of like a simple Bible study in disguise. The first Sunday just one or two people showed up. So, what did they talk about? Well, Beverly chose Psalm 23 and, to pique their interest, she shared her childhood story of growing up on her daddy's ranch just southwest of Sacramento. Back in the 1920s, Dry Creek Ranch raised sheep, and her father employed Basque shepherds. One was named Sam, the other Joaquin. Beverly told the story of how when twin female lambs were born, Sam and Joaquin would always kill the smaller one so that the other could grow stronger, being nurtured by the mother sheep alone. This broke little Beverly's heart. And so, she asked her shepherd friends if her mom and she could rescue those little weaker lambs and feed them by hand and raise them in a separate pen. Beverly shared this fascinating story. The people in her little assisted living group were on the edges of their seats. Beverly went on to say, "As we cared for those lambs, I noticed that they only came when we would call out to them. Nobody else could call. They didn't answer to anyone else, only me and my mother. We were the only ones who cared for them." And then she added, "And this is a great illustration of the Gospel of John, where Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice. They listen to Jesus because He cares for them and lays down His life for sheep." I want you to know that now about 30 residents of that retirement center are attending Beverly's time of Sunday Afternoon Reflections. She has taught Psalm 23 as a follow-up and how the Good Shepherd gives us rest, refreshes our souls, and guides us along paths of right living. He protects and comforts us so that we don't have to fear evil or even death. May Beverly's life be a testimony to you. Be Christ's ambassador wherever He has placed you: in your home, your place of work, your school, college, in your community, or maybe even in an assisted living center.
Guest (Female): And we are so grateful that you're listening too, friend. Visit us today at joniradio.org where you can find and share this wonderful encouragement from the Gospel of John.