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A lot of people don’t know that kids can get arthritis. Over 300,000 children in the USA have an autoimmune issue that causes them swelling and pain called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA).
Polyarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is the particular form that Jennie Harclerode has. It lay dormant until she was 3 years old when an injury sparked the inflammation in her body.
That’s when pain and limitation became a regular part of the rest of her life.
With this kind of diagnosis, your body is under constant pain and causes many limitations but Jennie has used her hard times to God’s glory. Jennie recalls one of the hardest parts of her life was when she was 16 and she had to have full hip replacement surgery.
During her rehabilitation, Jennie had to stay in a rehab facility. Life felt dark, and she was very aware of the fact that she was the youngest person in the facility. Surrounded by many elderly people, she felt isolated and alone. At 16, you never imagine being all alone, pulled away to another town, and experiencing a new level of physical pain. On top of that, she had many individuals who would look at her and talk to her like an anomaly. It was at this point when Jennie decided to make her misery her ministry. She saw that God gave her pain for a purpose.
JRA has taken a toll on Jennie’s body. She describes the way her body is altered because of the arthritis. It has caused her fingers to bend and ‘cripple’ and her walk to become slower like someone that is older. This created much self-conciousness in her twenties as she desired to be attractive and desirable to men. But the story she tells of how she came to meet her husband was so incredible. It says a lot about friends and the power of prayer! And such a precious way that God supplies our needs even in a way that feels impossible.
Moving into the season of marriage and motherhood was a huge concern for Jennie with her limitations. As she gets older and her body ages, the hurdles of JRA get harder. But Jennie is praying for Jesus to come well before she has to worry of the degradation of her body from age.
Because of the medications she has been on, it was likely that she wouldn’t be able to conceive a child. Jennie recounts that the prayers of God’s people where answered when the Lord chose to bless the Harclerode’s with a daughter, Aralyn Joy, which means beautiful (joyful!) melody.
I desperately want you to drink in the MIRACLE that Jennie received and tells us about in our time together. I don’t even want to recount it in the post. Just, please, listen!
Through the miracle, Jennie paints a wonderful picture: It’s a picture of being kingdom-minded, it’s a full measure of hope, and it gives me the peace that God is totally in control.
This earth isn’t our home, we weren’t promised a perfect life without pain, hardship or trials, but God prepared a place for us! And He’s coming!!!
Patiently enduring is the theme of Jennie’s life so much that she made Patiently Endure title of her interactive devotional journal. She has the hope of heaven and the hope of Jesus.
In the journal, you have the opportunity to learn and reflect by answering questions and writing out your feelings. And you get much wisdom and perspective from Jennie’s story mixed with her lessons she’s learned based on God’s word. I love this journal for myself and for ALL my friends that are walking hard roads right now. I hope you will consider blessing Jennie by purchasing a copy for you or for a friend that needs encouragement!
