Saturday, April 4, 2015

Parkinson’s Disease



Why Not Me?

Vonnie Busby loved the beach.  So one day, her husband Tom took her to Dauphin Island.  She had been struggling with the effects of Parkinson’s Disease, so it was a good outing for them.  As they were traveling, Tom pulled over.  He was emotionally upset.  He cried, “Vonnie, it’s not fair!  Why you?”  Why did his beloved wife have to suffer with Parkinson’s Disease?

Vonnie looked at her loving husband and replied, “Why not me?”

Vonnie and Tom both knew that following Jesus did not exempt them from the struggles of life.  Jesus told His disciples: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  In the world, troubles and trials will occur – even for God’s people.

On March 29, 2015, Vonnie Busby passed from this life.  Her loving husband of 46 years, 4 months, and 1 day included these words in a tribute to her:

My lover, my sweetheart, my confidant, my friend, my wife, the mother of our children, made me want to be a better person.  She was the personification of a non-judgmental Christian – a disciple of The Carpenter. So, pardon me, for praising her and exalting her, if you please, but I just could not hold it in.  The memories I have of her will forever be locked up inside me, and I shall, so help me God, strive from this day forward to make her even more proud of me and to return again to my first love and serve HIM more diligently and share HIM through my actions and words until I once more hold her in my arms.

This is not a Goodbye my darling.  It is only temporary.  So long for now, my "sweetie."  Praise God for you – Vonnie Marie Webb Busby!!!!!

Children of God can look forward to a REUNION one day after the struggles of this life are over.  “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The reason we can look forward to the RESURRECTION and a REUNION with those who have died in Christ is because Jesus is alive!  He rose from the dead!  And His resurrection guarantees our own (see 1 Corinthians 15).

Because of God’s love for us, He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).  Three days later, Jesus rose from the grave conquering sin, death, and the devil himself (see Hebrews 2:14-18).  Through Jesus, we can share in His victory, if we will only trust and obey Him.

God will save and give the gift of eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse those who continue to walk in the light of His word (1 John 1:7), “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Eternal life!  “Why not me?” one may ask.  Jesus says, “Come to Me and I will give you eternal life.”

Won’t YOU accept His offer on His terms?

David Sargent

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