My name is Parkinson and I'm here to stay

 Most of you are familiar with Parkinson's disease and the devastating effects it can have in your body. It's a progressive neurological disease that most people associate with the shaking or trembling of different members of your body, but it's more than that. There are what they called the "non motor" symptoms of the disease and sometimes, like in my case, they can be more challenging than you think. Some of these symptoms are depression and anxiety and if you don't purposely attack them head on with the help of professionals and mostly the help of God, they can become more challenging that they need to be. I'm blessed to finally have found wonderful physicians that really understand my condition.

Hi, my name is Juan and I have Parkinson's disease. I'm in the earlier stages of the disease, only affected on my left side of the body. Thank God for this since I'm a righty but it doesn't stop it from being challenging. My left arm is very rigid, my left hand has lost its ability to play the piano like it used to and I walk a little funny with my left foot. Obviously, I've been working with my doctors with the help of medications and therapy to try to recuperate the mobility on my left side but most importantly, to help balance my emotional self.

It's been a long and tough road. My neurologist believes I've had it for seven years even though I had no idea I had it at the time. I was living a normal life back then. The doctor came to this conclusion by asking me if I had lost some sense of smell and I answered: "Yes, like five years ago" and he replied: " Usually Parkinson starts two years before you lose your sense of smell. There you go, it's been approximately seven years.

I'm still struggling trying to accept I have the disease and what that means for the future but I know Somebody who holds the future. His name is Jesus. Like the old hymn says:

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives"

I need to find comfort in knowing that He holds the future because in the end, the Sovereign One will determine what happens to my Parkinson. Parkinson might say: " I'm here to stay" but Jesus says: " I'm the Great I am" and nothing, absolutely nothing is greater than He is. "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world" another hymn says and Satan might try to make my Parkinson worse but only if God allows it ( Job 1:6-12). I don't know how bad my Parkinson will get because everybody experiences it differently, but I do know I have a God who's All Powerful and able to do what He pleases in my life. I want to be able to say what Daniel and his friends said:

"...,our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Daniel 3:16‭-‬18 ESV

When going through dire circumstances, we need to be able to take such a stand. I definitely want God to get me to that level of maturity. Do you? Be blessed.