Fighting ALS, Fueled by Faith

This year has brought a lot into focus. The book of James says (paraphrased) we should rejoice in trials of all kinds because God is preparing us to be complete. Hard verse to understand and even harder to do. So here is why its a Merry Christmas at the Johnsons:

Jesus is our Lord. We embrace that without exception amongst my kids and their spouses/fiancé. It’s the greatest gift there will ever be.

All of my kids are here! And all of their spouses are also. We are missing one – and that matters to us – but it wasn’t possible for him to come and I know he is blessing his family with his presence on Christmas Day. I’m overjoyed with seven out of eight!

With ALS there is a scale used to measure progression and since diagnosis I haven’t lost ground with my ALSFRS score. This is great and means I’m not progressing measurably. Praise God!

I was able to retire with disability two weeks after getting diagnosed and, based on the God ordaining the circumstances, we will have sufficient finances to retire and fight, love and make memories.

I have more support than we know how to utilize. Truly. Between my family, church family and friends, we are immensely blessed.

I am more present than I have ever been. I’m not stressed about all of the Christmas hustle and bustle, expectations and the like. Simply being totally present with those God has blessed us with this Christmas is a refinement (completing work) I’ve embraced in this trial.

We have grief at times for the challenges but we are choosing to rejoice in the trials because we know all of this isn’t the end. This Christmas I am reminded that we celebrate the beginning (birth of Christ) but our hope is in what’s been accomplished resulting in an empty tomb and in what is yet to come. With that perspective, I can rejoice in knowing He is in the process of making me complete.

What more do we need? We hope you have an amazing Christmas and remember to embrace being fully present for what really matters!