Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not let his disability slow him down or change his positive attitude toward life. Last week, he shared on social media how God has used for good an accident that left him in a wheelchair.
Abbott, 62, has been paralyzed below the waist since 1984, when an oak tree fell on him while he was jogging. He was elected governor in 2014 after having served as state attorney general and associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
Abbott posted on Twitter a video of a muscular wheelchair-bound man making his way up a climbing wall, using only his hands. “Never quit. Never give up. Overcome any challenge,” Abbott wrote in a message accompanying the video.
Never quit
Never give up
Overcome any challenge pic.twitter.com/iVuAW0SY7a— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 23, 2019
When a Twitter user responded with a negative comment — “so great to see, but if I ever end up in a wheelchair, I’m just ending it” – Abbott spoke up and gave some insight into his own reaction.
READ: Teen good samaritan loses leg but not his faith
“That’s what I thought before I ended up in a wheelchair,” he tweeted. “I’ve done more AFTER the accident that left me paralyzed than before that accident. With God all things are possible.”
That’s what I thought before I ended up in a wheelchair.
I’ve done more AFTER the accident that left me paralyzed than before that accident.
With God all things are possible. https://t.co/dMM0y6R13P
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 23, 2019
The exchange with followers continued when a Twitter user claimed God put Abbott in a wheelchair.
“God didn’t cause the accident that left me paralyzed, but he did help me persevere over that enormous challenge,” Abbott tweeted. “I’m a testament that the glory of God is revealed by a young man’s back being broken in half and still rising up to be governor of Texas. With God, all is possible.”
Abbott’s comment sparked pushback by another Twitter user who wrote, “Funny how people always find a way to praise God for the good things in their life, but find every possible excuse to absolve him of the bad things. Omnipotence goes both ways, Greg.”
Abbott answered that comment, too.
“THE purpose of life is to build a relationship with God,” he tweeted. “Just like in any relationship, both good & bad things happen in our lives. The thing about a relationship with God is that bad events bring us closer to God. God’s limitless love helps us rise above life’s challenges.”
THE purpose of life is to build a relationship with God.
Just like in any relationship, both good & bad things happen in our lives. The thing about a relationship with God is that bad events bring us closer to God.
God’s limitless love helps us rise above life’s challenges. https://t.co/9i2ijxJ3Ln
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 25, 2019
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
