The Power of Words

 
Jeff's Aunt Lois had been matriarch of the Reisch family for many years. Her husband, Jeff's Uncle Dutch, called her the "perfect pastor's wife." They made a good team. Last Easter Aunt Lois went to be with the Lord - and with Jeff - and Uncle Dutch felt utterly lost. He wrote, "I read, 'Journey With Jeff' again - what a blessing!! Those last chapters saved my life....I could have become a hermit! But, I'm involved now in my retirement community, and there's so much going on I can hardly get lonely. I preach almost every Sunday. I sing in the Communtiy Chorus and in the Barbershop Quartet." There's not much Jeff's Uncle Dutch isn't involved in at his retirement community in Zelienople, PA.~~~Dutch's reponse alone is a good reason to have written the book!

Inspiration for Advocates

 
"Hello Sybil, You probably don't remember me, but I felt compelled to reach out to you." Thus began a letter from a gal who identified herself as someone who had worked at the South Avenue group home for Lifetime Assistance while Jeff lived there. "Jeff left an indelible mark on my heart and I have always thought of him with great joy. He could teach the world a lot about loving life! I was trying to find Marge, one of the staff I worked with, so I typed in LAI, and found a Newsletter with an article about Jeff on the front page. I knew instantly who Jeff Reisch was and began to cry with happy memories. I remember how Jeff used to call Marge "Mudge," and how he used to talk about 'Mitch Miller!' and play his air instruments. I loved Jeff and missed him after I moved back home. It was a difficult time in my life. In Hindsight, I realize now that those days at South Ave. were an instrumental part of my growth. Thank you for sharing Jeff with us. He was an inspiration and a treasured gift from God. God bless you and your family."~~~ How I relish these notes filled with memories of Jeff!

Inspiration from Journey With Jeff

 
"This is for you," Alan said one Sunday morning. He handed me a long stem of beautiful blooms of sweet-smelling lillies. "I finished reading 'Journey With Jeff,'" he said, "and thought you ought to have this." He added that he wasn't sure if this was appropriate, but I quickly replied, "How could it be any more appropriate!?" Alan told me a friend of his in Hawaii had a 53 year-old daughter with Down syndrome, and this friend had heard of 'Journey With Jeff.' "YOU HAVE TO READ IT!" Alan told him emphatically. I love receiving endorsements like this!!!
~~ Alan has been with our church family about a year now, finding small ways to be of help and encouragement, from shoveling snow to singing in the choir. He has begun attending our Friday morning 'Seriously Funny Bible Study,' where our discussions are punctuated by stories of God's grace. The short stories in 'Journey With Jeff' often have become illustrations, such as my refusal to accept the doctor's diagnosis of Jeff's retardation when he was a year and a half old. When I stopped demanding, "Why us, Lord?" and began asking, "Where do we go from here?" then we began to see God's grace working in the people God sent to help us. (God's grace also can be found in an extraordinarily beautiful stem of blooming lillies!)