Joni: An Unforgetable Story

I did not quite "get it" that there were three books in one, but I'm very grateful for it - I got the "happy ending" I'm so childish as to want. I'm soo childlike that I didn't want to look at the pictures in the last set to see wedding photos until I could read about the relationship and subsequent wedding. The "A Step Further" is fabulous in that it is the only work I've ever read willing to take on the hard questions of sovereignty (too often used as a cop-out in conversation) and of God's love for us, magnificently summed up by her statement of lasting effect - was (can't find it to quote it directly) that miraculous healing of a quad, for instance, would have a limited effect for the Kingdom of God, 40-50 years for the length of a mortal life, but for the salvation of even one, it was worth being bound to the chair. I am handicapped so this was a life-changing book for me.

This is one of those few stories that never leave you. Even after you have read the book, closed it and put it on the shelf, the story remains and you can't get it out of your head. A bright, energetic, full-of-life girl goes diving into the shallow water - an act that will forever change her life and ultimately change the lives of millions of others. Suddenly, this athletic, independent young girl is trapped in a body that will not move. Paralyzed from the shoulders down, she finds herself no longer independent, but fully dependent on the care of others for the simplest of tasks. Things we take for granted like wiping away tears, blowing your own nose or brushing your hair - now on someone else's time table, not your own. Understandably, this turn of events shakes her faith as she shakes her mental fists at God for dashing all her hopes and dreams for the future. Failed romances, rocky friendships, family heartaches - Joni holds nothing back in this insightful view into her world. Through her emotional and spiritual failings, the author shares her growth and understanding of God's plan for her life and the lives of others. Using her mouth to draw and paint, the author became an established artist long before people realized that the artist whose work they were admiring was completely paralyzed and unable to use her hands. This revelation thrust her into celebrity where she has been able to make more of an impact on the lives of others than she would have ever been able to have accomplished prior to her injury. Through her charity, Joni & Friends, the author has provided for wheelchairs for the disabled around the world and opened the doors of opportunity to wheelchair bound people everywhere. I've seen the author on Larry King a few times and always wondered, "how does that woman keep smiling and keep such an upbeat attitude?" It is hard to imagine a worse fate than what she has endured since her accident, yet after reading her personal account of her life since that fateful summer in 1967, the reader understands exactly why she smiles and truly has joy in her life. I picked up this book thinking it would be 'interesting' and nothing more - I was delightfully surprised to find this to be a page-turner I could not put down. Even though I've finished reading this autobiography, I doubt I will ever truly put this book down. This is a story that sticks with you long after you've closed the back cover.

I read this book a few months a go. I haven't read many of christian writer's story about their lives, but some that i have read never really touched me the way Joni did. I was impressed and blessed from her honesty in pouring out her thoughts and feelings, even the bad ones. It did not discourage me, but instead it made me realise that we need to deal with ourselves to be able to see the real us and to be able to see what God wants to do in our lives.

I first read this book when I was 11 years old. Joni's story evokes deep feelings of despair, sorrow, anger, frustration, hope, inspiration and love. At 11 years old, this book provided a much-needed introduction to the hardships of life. I believe reading this book at such a young age prepared me for life and ministry.

I want to know if there is a video of this book. I have a client who would greatly benefit from it. She needs some inspiration. If anyone has information reguarding a video please write to me @ [email protected]. Thank you, Rhoda Smith