By Carolyn Bolz
Has anyone in your congregation ever done something for you that was so kind it brought tears to your eyes? That recently happened to me at the Lutheran congregation in Riverside, California, where I’m a member.
I live with a physical disability, where it has become too difficult for me to sit in a pew anymore on Sunday mornings. Sliding into and out of a pew, or keeping my balance while seated in a pew chair, is now impossible.
At first, I tried sitting in a chair in the back of our sanctuary, but none of the extra interlocking pew chairs had arms that would allow me to hold onto something when I sat down or stood up. I had no choice but to sit on my walker during worship services.
Because I didn’t want to block an aisle with my walker, finding a good place to sit posed yet another challenge. No matter where I sat on my walker in the sanctuary, someone from the congregation would inevitably need to squeeze past me during the service. Whenever they did, I worried about being unintentionally jostled or even losing my balance and falling.
I considered bringing my wheelchair to worship instead of my heavy walker, but that would have created other problems. Lifting my wheelchair into and out of a vehicle is a very awkward and difficult task. Besides, if I came to church in my wheelchair, it would be almost impossible for me to use the tiny, outdated, women’s restroom.
I kept praying for a solution to my problem, but there didn’t seem to be any. Every week, as soon as I arrived, I’d start worrying about where I could sit comfortably and safely during the service.
One Sunday morning, I walked into the sanctuary and had to take a second look. Just inside the entrance stood a beautiful, wooden chair with arms, upholstered in the same fabric as the other pew chairs! This chair had been carefully placed in the back of the sanctuary, where someone with a physical disability could easily use it.
I knew that a member of our congregation must have put the new chair there for me. I even had an idea of who that very special person might be. Moments later, the woman I was thinking about, Barb, walked over. Smiling at me, she asked if I liked the chair.
I felt my eyes fill with tears of gratitude. “Oh, yes!” I assured her. “It’s absolutely perfect. Thank you.” Since that unforgettable morning, I’ve been sitting comfortably in my custom chair each Sunday during worship. I still marvel that not only did Barb find a suitable chair for me to use in church, she upholstered it for me too. Whenever I think about Barb’s act of kindness, a favorite Bible verse always comes to mind:
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
God answered my prayers for the perfect church chair by using Barb to help me. I hope God and Barb know how truly grateful I am!
Carolyn Bolz attended the University of California, Riverside, and taught in the public schools for many years. Now she has a passion for helping others who, like herself, live with a physical disability.
This article appeared in the Fall 2026 issue of Gather. To read more like it, subscribe to Gather.
