There is an old teaching that says, "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." As a 10 year old kid playing pee we football, Jason Anthony experienced the disappointment of "reckless words" when his coach told him, "You're not much of an athlete. Maybe you ought to do something else!" Jason walked off the field determined never to play football again...until he experienced "the tongue of the wise" some three years later. Coach Larry Buchanan talked Jason into strapping a helmet on one more time and after one week of practice encouraged him by saying, "Stick with it and one day you will be my star player." After high school Jason received a football scholarship to play wide receiver for the University of North Carolina.

Those early life lessons in perseverance and encouragement served as the foundation on which he would build his dream of being a professional speaker. Within the span of 12 months Jason was told by two well meaning mentors that he did not posses the "giftings, talents or abilities" to be a professional speaker. Caught once again in the crossroads of discouragement and determination, Jason chose to persevere and pursue his dream of public speaking.

Having overcome welfare and a myriad of frustrating moments on stage, today Jason is an in-demand, national speaker communicating with passion his messages of hope and encouragement in overcoming life's obstacles.

Little did he know that those seemingly mountain sized obstacles would be miniscule compared to what lied ahead. On March 26, 2001, Jason and his wife, Wendy went to the doctor's office for what they thought would be a routine pregnancy check up, but the sonogram told a different story. Their forth child would be born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus requiring two major surgeries within the first 24 hours of life. In an instant their world was turned upside down.

The picture painted for them and their baby was grim: a life filled with surgeries, wheel chairs and special needs were only the tip of the ice burg. They were encouraged to terminate the pregnancy and move on, but their belief in God and love for their unborn son forged in them a faith to once again persevere.

Today Jason paints a different picture on the most unlikely of canvases. Never having any formal training, Jason uses a few sticks of chalk and a bed sheet from Wal-Mart to create masterpieces inspiring people to forge ahead through their obstacles of life. Jason attributes all of his abilities to the grace of God.

Jason, his wife, Wendy and their four children live in Indialantic, Florida.