“Faith is the conviction of things not seen." ~ Hebrews
11:1
It’s a familiar story; a child who
simply skipped adolescence. She’d been
dealt a crappy hand in a country of slaves - not to humans but to a life of poverty
and hunger to which escape was nearly impossible. Barely a teenager, she married a man more
than 30 years older who forced her into prostitution to support their six
children.
Adding to an already-desperate situation, her third child, a
‘preemie’ whose eyes had not yet fully matured, was born sightless. She
believed his blindness was God's payback for the things she’d done wrong in her
life.
The child, who eventually changed his name to Eivets, grew
up undeterred by the “3 strikes against him (black, blind and poor).”
He was a normal kid who occasionally got into trouble. Normal except that he mastered every
instrument he tried (from kitchen spoons, to the harmonica and later the
piano).
His mother eventually fled to Detroit, divorced and found
work. They joined the Whitestone Baptist
Church where young Eivets developed a personal relationship with God while
expanding his musical talents.
God spoke to me, ‘I
will make you rich in the spirit of inspiration, to inspire others as well as
create music to encourage the world to a place of oneness, hope and
positivity.’ “I believed Him and not
them!” Eivets recounted.
There he blossomed into a genuine prodigy, learning piano,
drums, and harmonica all by the age of nine. Two years later, while performing for some of
his friends, Eivets was discovered by Ronnie White of the Miracles who helped
arrange an audition with Motown’s Berry Gordy. Gordy signed the kid immediately under the new
name Little Stevie Wonder. (E-i-v-e-t-s
backward).
The rest is history!
A near fatal accident in his early twenties strengthened Wonder’s
Christian faith at a crucial time. A log
rolled off a truck and through the window of his tour bus, leaving him in a
four-day coma and a permanent loss of smell.
“I was really just a walking pair of ears,” he joked. “God kept me alive to use His musical
gifts to help and encourage more people.”
For over 5 decades, Stevie Wonder remains at the top, with more
than 30 Top 10 singles, over 150 million albums sold, 26 Grammys, one Academy
Award, and sold-out shows around the world. Sometimes though, the numbers don't tell the
whole story. He still works tirelessly
to promote peace, love and understanding for all. And gives all the credit where it’s due.
“We have a great relationship. If He didn’t want me to sing, He wouldn’t
have given me the talent to do it. He’s
always been like a Father to me. For
everything I’ve received [in life] I give all praise to God.”
Father God, I’ve achieved nothing compared to
what You’ve done for me. I truly believe that You do miracles through people of
faith expressing practical love for others rather than people of faith living
lives which cause division and pain.” ~ Stevie Wonder
