Letters From Grandpa #409

LETTERS FROM GRANDPA

• 409

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will be about becoming an “overcomer”. Life is filled with problems and the Bible promises special blessings to those who “overcome” those problems. Today we will focus on the amazing story of an “overcomer” named David Lofchick. Zig Ziglar tells David’s story in his book See You at the Top, published in 1975. Ziglar gave his heart to Christ at 42 years of age and spent the rest of his life motivating people to overcome their problems. He died Nov. 28, 2012 at the age of 86. The story of David Lofchick is one of many Ziglar told to motivate millions.

Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Lofchick of Winnipeg, Manitoba already had two daughters, and they were delighted when their son David was born. Their happiness, however, turned to deep concern when the doctor informed them that their son was spastic and had cerebral palsy. His poor health was further compromised by the fact that he had no motor connections to the right side of his body. The medical prognosis for David was that he would never be able to walk, talk, or even count to ten.

The Lofchicks, however, decided not to give up without a fight. They took David to over 20 specialists and they all confirmed the same horrible prognosis. Finally they heard of a Dr. Pearlstein in Chicago. He was reported to be the world’s foremost authority on cerebral palsy. Patients came to him from all over the world and he was booked up a year in advance. Bernie Lofchick, however, called repeatedly, and finally his persistence paid off and he talked with Dr. Pearlstein in person. Bernie begged for an appointment and asked to be placed on standby for the next cancellation. Eleven days later a cancellation came and young David had his first appointment with this famous specialist.

Dr. Pearlstein confirmed what the other doctors had said, but did offer them hope. He outlined a rigorous program that would tax the mental and physical resources of the entire family. They would have to work until they dropped and then get up and work some more. They began by building a small gym in their home and hiring a body builder. After months of effort David was finally able to move the length of his body without assistance. Not much to brag about, but at least it was a start. At the age of six he was able to do one push-up. His effort to do just one push-up was so intense that there was not a dry inch on his frail body not covered with perspiration. Next the doctors suggested exercising in water and David accepted the challenge. He was floating within two weeks and swimming before the end of the summer. David also learned to ice skate but it took him nearly a year to merely stand on his skates with the help of a hockey stick.

David continued to make progress and in Sept. 1969 was accepted at the St. John’s Raven Court School for Boys. This is the one of the most demanding private schools in Canada. While in the 7th

grade David was doing 9th grade mathematics. (Not too bad for a boy who was not supposed to be able to count to ten). David also progressed physically until he was able to do as many as a thousand push- ups in a single day. He was also able to run six miles without stopping. He took up golf at the age of 11 and soon broke 90. He also played left wing on the local hockey team. As a teen-ager he discarded his fourth bicycle and got his driver’s license. In Feb. 1974 he was issued a whole life insurance policy for $100,000. It was the first standard life insurance policy ever issued to someone with cerebral palsy.

David still has a debilitating disease and if he fails to exercise, even for a few days, his condition starts to deteriorate. As an adult he became the number one salesman in the number one real estate firm in the city of Winnipeg, Canada. He is married and has three children.

Please consider these promises of God to “overcomers”:

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“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7).

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“He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death” (Rev. 2:11).

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“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it” (Rev. 2:17).

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“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations – He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery – just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star” (Rev. 2:26- 27).

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“He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before the Father and his angels” (Rev. 3:5).

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“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God” (Rev. 3:11-12).

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“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcome and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Rev. 3:21).

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“He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son” (Rev. 21:7)

OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS BUT WITH THE HELP OF GOD YOU TOO CAN OVERCOME YOUR PROBLEMS!

YOU WILL BE BLESSED BY GOD WHEN YOU OVERCOME!

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce