The Fall Season

Hello my name is Jasper and I'm a native of Detroit and although I may complain a little about the change in temperature deep down I do love the fall season.  I just bundle up a bit more and I go out and I enjoy watching the leaves turn on the trees.  You would think that by being a Detroit native I would be used to the change of the seasons but not so.  I complain along with everyone else.  But like I said deep down I do love the change in seasons even winter time has a special appeal.  It's so beautiful to see the fresh falling snow cover trees and bushes.  It's an awesome work of God as he paints a beautiful picture for us.  Things for me are a bit different having to be in my wheelchair.  I can't rustle through the leaves like I used to or go walking in certain areas admiring natures handiwork but still I get out and it's a blessing to be able to see the seasons change.  I don't know where you may live, if you have one season or you don't have the natural growth that Michigan has but I do love it.  Good bye my name is Jasper. 

Be Yourself

Hello my name is Jasper and I'm a quad but still that does not stop me from being who I am.  I don't know who you may have been before your accident.  Sure the accident takes a lot out of us but in time it all comes back.  I'm speaking about your personality, your humor, your spirit, your thirst for life and anything else you may have had going for you.  Sometimes things seem as though they'll never be normal again but be positive, be yourself and in time the wounds will heal.  I go places such as concerts, movies, I'm still waiting to go on a date....ha ha ha, but in time who knows, anything is possible.  What I'm trying to say is life goes on and even though we were sidelined for a moment we're not out of the game yet.  So...be positive in your life, count your blessings, be a blessing to someone else, talk to other people in your condition who needs a pull up.  There are so many things that we can do even in our wheelchair state.  So be positive, be blessed and above all be yourself.  My name is Jasper, good bye.   

Faith

"Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). That was the lesson that was taught at my weekly bible study. It started me to thinking about my situation because we all hope for something that we can't see. But this thing called faith sometimes is the only thing we have to hold onto. It's the thing that keeps us hoping and giving us the desire to continue on. We can't see the changes in our situation, or the healing that's taking place in our bodies, or the renewing of our minds, but nonetheless we have faith that it's there and it's happening. All we need do for this act of faith to work is to believe that it will and then be patient and allow it to happen. It won't happen overnight, that would be a miracle. But a faith walk will take some time. How much time? No one knows, but again we must have faith that it will happen. There have been many acts of faith that have been documented and told by many people. People walking after many years of not being able to, or someone seeing for the very first time, people suffering with a situation for years and then suddenly being relieved of that situation. There are times in our lives when all of us must exercise a certain measure of faith to get through a situation. Without faith, we have no hope. Without hope, the spirit dies. And when that happens, you're somewhat doomed. So hold on to your faith until the very end.

No Limits

Hello my name is Jasper and I'm a quad.  I would like to express to you my feelings about limiting yourself.  We must learn that there are no limits because we are quads.  I recently went on a fishing trip and they had a pole especially for me that was a sip and puff.  I've never seen this type of car, but I was told there is a car you can operate with sip and puff.  There are no limits to what we can do with determination and the technology they have today.  I recently went to a jazz festival in downtown Detroit.  There were lots of people everywhere but I managed to guide through them in my wheelchair.  I went to all the jazz stages, I went to see all the vendors and I had a wonderful time.  I did not limit myself because there were hundreds of people there.  I did not let the size of the crowd intimidate me.  I also went to my brothers house for a BBQ the following day because of the Labor Day weekend.  All my children and grandchildren came by and I had a beautiful day watching my kids play with each other.  I did not limit myself because my brothers house is not wheelchair accessible.  We had a beautiful time right in the garage so I strongly feel this is something we must recognize.  Don't limit yourself because of an event or the size of the crowd or some place that may be difficult.  We can overcome almost anything if we want to.  My name is Jasper and these are my thoughts.