I Am Blessed
By: La Donna Chase
Many of you already know this but just before Christmas I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Needless to say, I was devastated. For more than two months I mentally fell into a deep, dark hole. My neurologist was quick to point out that PD is not a death sentence, and he even said this was an “exciting time” to have Parkinson’s but this didn’t mean much to me at the time. Then, slowly, God began revealing Himself to me in all the prayers and cards I received from the prayer groups at church, in the phone call I got from Pastor Jeanette that made me feel so loved and in the prayers, hugs and kind words I received from all my friends in our church choir. My best friend who said she still wanted to travel with me, my other friends who invited me to lunch and to tea so I would just feel “normal” again. Most important: the unconditional, unfailing love of my husband Denny.
God also started showing me that I am truly blessed in other ways. I heard about a friend of a friend who suffered a devastating stroke, about the poor man climbing a ladder, falling, and now he’s a quadriplegic, my sister’s friend who has ALS; it could be so much worse…I “only” have PD. Pastor Eric’s Lenten Devotional from March 7 said “when we have baggage, our freedom is limited.” I chose to get rid of my negative baggage and start living again. I know God will be with me on this journey and He will be with you on all your journeys no matter what you are facing. All you need to do is ask and listen for His still, small voice and you, too, will know that you are blessed.
Heavenly Father: Thank you for all that is, was, and will be. Amen.