“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well”

Psalm 139:14 NKJV

Because of an injury that happened whilst she was being born, Joy has Quadraplegic Celebral Palsy. On any given day, you will find her sitting in her motorised wheelchair which she operates using the back of her head. She has to rely completely on the care of others, and yet despite all this, she truly lives up to her name. Here, with the help of her mother Faith, Joy tells her beautiful and very moving story.

“One evening, when I was about thirteen years old, my mum was in the living room with her Lydia prayer group. I was in bed, and for a while had been crying quietly to myself under the covers, because I couldn’t walk. Suddenly into the darkness of my room, I saw a bright white light, and I realised that it was Jesus. He was wearing a long white robe, whiter than anything I have ever seen before, and there was such love in His eyes.

He said “Joy, why are you crying?” and I told Him it was because I couldn’t walk. He said that I wouldn’t be able to walk until I was in heaven, and that this was because a part of my brain near to my neck was not working properly. (This was not known at the time, but was later medically proven to be just as He had said.) I began to wonder what was happening, but He reassured me saying, “Don’t worry, it’s Me”. The way that Jesus spoke, was just like when you have a little child who you absolutely love, and want to be with all the time. That was what His voice was like, warm, loving and caring. He made me realise that everything was alright. Jesus knelt down by my bed, and told me that He would come back and take me on a picnic, and that all the people that I loved would be there.” This made me feel very happy.

Then Jesus lay down on the floor next to my bed, as though He was going to go to sleep, so I fell asleep too. In the morning when I woke up, He was gone. I always knew that Jesus loved me, but from that moment it wasn’t just words any more, it was real. I am looking forward to the picnic!”