North Idaho Christian’s Johnson finds joy in life

Teachers at North Idaho Christian School frequently use one word to describe Jodi Johnson: joyful.

Laughter arrives rapid-fire 10 minutes into a conversation with Johnson. She jokes about herself, with people around her and despite painful rheumatoid arthritis slowing her movements.

“Joyful, that’s the character trait people usually describe for me; I think that’s admirable they describe me that way, but after I’ve heard it a few times, I say ‘I’ve got dimensions, come up with another word,’ ” said Johnson, laughing again. She had just described herself as “not shy.”

Johnson left public school to study at North Idaho Christian, in Hayden, as a seventh-grader. Students in grades 1 through 12 bustle around three levels. It’s a struggle for Johnson to move well but she doesn’t complain, said Principal Cal Booth.

“The school does have an elevator but Jodi doesn’t like to use it,” Booth said. “We all see her as joyful because she has these circumstances that are hard, yet she shows joy and brings joy into everyone else’s life.”

Since her first days at North Idaho Christian, Johnson said teachers and students cared about her. The arthritis wasn’t apparent until before ninth grade, and her school friendships have only grown stronger.

“I know all my classmates and I love them all,” said Johnson, adding that she likes smaller classes. “That leads to closer friendships, and a better learning environment.”

During seventh- and eighth-grades, she played basketball but noticed a difference four years ago. While dribbling, her elbows hurt. Her sister noticed she ran with a limp, so a doctor’s visit led to the diagnosis.

“After ninth grade when I had all this happen, people would be carrying my backpack, and teachers would understand if I was a few minutes late to class,” Johnson said. “My friends will joke with me all the time, saying ‘You’re slow.’ I appreciate that.”

Booth said Johnson refuses to let her condition define her. Last year, Johnson received the school’s top honor, the Frank Canale Memorial Award, recognizing a student demonstrating traits such as servanthood, humility and giving thanks in all circumstances.

She also has served three years as a school peer chaplain.

“If we see someone who is struggling, we’ll pray for them and try to encourage them,” she said.

Johnson enjoys children’s ministry, with 17 hours job-shadowing a pastor at Coeur d’Alene Bible Church. Away from school, the Coeur d’Alene resident takes part in Bible study fellowship, youth group and nursery volunteering. Her parents are Doug and Sally Johnson, and she has sisters Jenna, 23, and Jill, 21.

Johnson shrugs when asked how she stays positive. “Honestly, it’s got to be the Lord because I have no idea how I do it.”

After graduation, she plans a year at home before attending Calvary Chapel Bible College in California for biblical studies. Psalm 18:33 is her favorite verse.

“I opened my Bible one night, and my feet were really hurting,” Johnson said. “I saw this: ‘He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He enables me to stand on the heights.’ God cares, and he hasn’t forgotten about me.”