Joni and Friends - Real Families, Real Needs: A Compassionate Guide for Families Living with Disability

If we discover, in Heaven, an extended Hebrews 11 Faith Hall of Fame, I fully expect Joni Eareckson Tada to be on the list. Joni and Friends new book, Real Families, Real Needs, is an amazing source of strength, wisdom, and encouragement for families living with disability.

KIRK CAMERON

Actor, producer, and cofounder of Camp Firefly, a camp for seriously ill children and their families

Real Families, Real Needs accomplishes what very few books for families of kids with special needs have done before: It addresses the needs of all family members who love a child with special needs. The first four sections of the book speak specifically to the unique needs of dads, moms, siblings, and grandparents. The final section helps parents become effective advocates and provides ideas others can employ to support parents and families. With wisdom founded in experience, the authors speak directly to the hearts of family members and meet them at their points of need. I highly recommend it!

JOLENE PHILO

Author of A Different Dream for My Child and parent of a child with special needs

As a parent to kids with disabilities, Im not interested in all roses stories that gloss over challenges. This book doesnt do that. Rarely have I come across accounts from real families encompassing the difficult and beautiful journey of special needs, all while pointing the reader to Christ. Everyone needs a copy of Real Families, Real Needs on their bookshelf.

GILLIAN MARCHENKO

Author of Still Life: A Memoir of Living Fully with Depression and Sun Shine Down

The words were blurry... due to my tears... but the messages and testimonies are clear. Thank you to the many contributors here who allow us to humbly walk a bit with them on this sacred journey.

TOM V AN WINGERDEN

Executive director, Friendship Ministries

Countless hurting people have been helped by the ministry of Joni and Friends over the years, and their new book, Real Families, Real Needs, is no exception to the quality of comfort they offer. As a psychologist, I know all too well the nature of the emotional suffering experienced by families with disabilities; and having grown up in one myself, I know these needs from the inside out. The courageous and thoughtful approach to addressing the needs of fathers, mothers, siblings, grandparents, and family members is both spiritually and psychologically sound. I could refer my clients to this book with complete confidence that they will find emotional help, and I plan to for many years to come.

MARK W. BAKER, P H D

Executive director of La Vie Counseling Center and author of Jesus, The Greatest Therapist Who Ever Lived

This book is helpful at many levels. In each of these chapters, there are stories of real people who are facing tough circumstances in families affected by disabilities. Through these stories, it becomes clear that God, the Creator of the Universe, loves each of us regardless of performance, abilities, or perceived holiness. God accepts usnot because of our worth or goodness but because of His love and goodness. In the midst of lives and families affected by disabilities, Jesus is making Himself known in amazing and personal ways, bringing great comfort. In the midst of life-changing diagnoses, we can choose fear and focus on our shattered dreams and numerous unknowns, or we can choose to trust God and believe that He is in control of every unknown. This book offers hope and many practical suggestions for moving in a positive direction toward life with Christ. I hope as you read it you will find help and hope in your journey.

PAMELA A. HARMON

Vice president, Young Life Capernaum

In February of 1998, the Ware family entered a world that we had heard, prayed, and read about but were personally detached from. When our son became a quadriplegic through an accident during basketball practice, our entire family was changed forever! We found ourselves facing multiple issues (e.g., emotional, financial, medical, spiritual, and living space) for which we were not prepared. We became intimately associated with a cultural groupfamilies with disabilities, whom we had previously known only from a distance. Resources from a Christian perspective are needed for the encouragement and education of families with disabilities and those who live and serve with them. Joni and Friends has been providing encouragement and enlightenment to families with disabilities and those who serve with them for decades. Real Families, Real Needs is a timely, practical, and encouraging resource!

DR. A. CHARLES WARE

President, Crossroads Bible College

As a father who has faced tragedy in my family, I find Real Families, Real Needs to be authentic, practical, solid, biblical, and gritty. From the first page, tears welled up in my eyes as I read story after story from men and women facing what Ive faced. If you are walking through that valley, you will want to take this book with you.

DAVID LYONS

International vice president of The Navigators Worldwide and author of Dont Waste the Pain: Learning to Grow through Suffering

Real Families, Real Needs: A Compassionate Guide for Families Living with Disability

2017 Joni and Friends. All rights reserved.

A Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188

Focus on the Family and the accompanying logo and design are federally registered trademarks of Focus on the Family, 8605 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. Tyndale and Tyndales quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Beyond Suffering is a registered trademark of Joni and Friends. EpiPen is a registered trademark of Mylan Inc.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of Focus on the Family.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1966, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ( NASB ) are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org). Scripture quotations marked ( NIV ) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. (www.zondervan.com) The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Peoples names and certain details of their stories have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. However, the facts of what happened and the underlying principles have been conveyed as accurately as possible.

The use of material from or references to various websites does not imply endorsement of those sites in their entirety. Availability of websites and pages is subject to change without notice.

Senior Editor: Pat Verbal, MA Associate Editors: Chonda Ralston, MA, and D. Christopher Ralston, PhD Assistant Editor: Rebecca Olson Contributors: Deborah Abbs, Anna Brady, Cavin Harper, Rebecca Olson, Chonda Ralston, D. Christopher Ralston, and Pat Verbal