Newly Quadriplegic. Can you imagine at age 19, after a boating accident, waking up from surgery to the doctors telling you that you will never walk again? Despair settled in. This is the beginning of Joe Delagrave’s deep transformation. His journey to forgiveness and faith is one you will never forget. He brings us into his happy but imperfect childhood, his WSU football days, his boating accident, a life-changing prison visit, and ultimately his inner heart working, that gave him the drive of an Olympian. He is a keynote speaker, Team USA Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Medal Winner and well-loved child of God.Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3XPOXuS--------Topics Shared:Soaking up affirmation from coachesHis goal in high school was being a college athleteSupportive parentsBirth father in prison, missed Joe’s entire childhoodIt wasn’t 15 years for some crazy offense, it was choices over and overDrugs, check fraud, not paying his rentAt 13 God spoke to him about being a speakerHis battle between pleasing people or pleasing GodFootball Scholarship to Winona State in Mn.Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin and the back sloughs of MississippiBoating accidentSpinal cord injury levelsJoe’s neck snaps at the C6 and C7, and he blacks outRescue boat, ambulance, then med flighted to the local hospitalThe Asia Test proves his spinal injuryAirlifted to LaCrosse Hospital for surgery to fuse his C6 and 7Complete quadriplegic or incomplete quadriplegic?Don Beebee House of Speed shirt cut offOpening his eyes to Prov. 3:5-6, and a newly-abled worldSurrounded by loving familyThe God of 2nd chancesFunctioning as an incomplete C6 and C7 quadriplegicGod softens his heart toward his dadVisiting his birth father in prisonReconciliation and forgiveness in one life-changing encounterMarriage, babies and adaptive sportsDiscovering wheelchair rugbyAn athlete againPreparing, making and medaling in the ParalympicsResources:Website- https://www.joedelagrave.com/IG- @jdelagrave14Joe’s Quotes:“Are we on fire for God, or on fire for what people think? A lot of times those two don’t coexist very well.”“As my athletic career was taking off, my relationship with Jesus was completely going the opposite way.”“We never know what kind of impact we make by simply being kind.”——————————————For more everyday extraordinary faith stories: https://lettersfromhomepodcast.com/