Monday, January 7, 2013
The Dilemma
As we transition to a new year, 2013, we are probably finding ourselves trying to better our lives through resolution. Maybe by eating better or exercising more. Maybe we will try to be more positive about life and the reality of our circumstances. I personally am constantly trying to keep the right perspective about my current situation. But what is right perspective for my situation? That is my dilemma. I mean there is so much to be negative about, right? I can't walk, I can hardly talk, and really can't eat anymore. I can't hold or hug my children. I can't even wipe my own backside for Heaven's sake. There is so much this horrible disgusting disease takes away from you that it is downright depressing. On the other hand, I have so much to be positive about. I have two of the most perfect kids God ever created (at least in my eyes). I get to enjoy them on a daily basis even if I can't pick them up. I live in one of the most loving and supportive communities I can imagine. I have a wonderful network of family and friends that keep me running. I live with the hope that with all of medical breakthroughs occurring today that I will one day be healthy again. I have heroes like Steve Gleason and O.J. Brigance to look up to. So I wake up every morning with a choice just like everyone else in this world. A choice to be happy or depressed. Some days the choice is difficult, but it's still a choice. Today I choose to be happy and plan on continuing to be happy throughout this new year. I want to close with something I heard Mike Ditka say the other day. He said, "yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a blessing." I thought that was a pretty good way of looking at things. I wish everyone a happy and hopeful 2013.
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God will bless you for your unwavering faith. Your strength and determination, as well as your positive attitude are an inspiration. Santa Fe prayer warriors are at work daily on your behalf. God Bless.
ReplyDeletePeggy Ross
Josh, you are an inspiration to us all. Your Faith is unwavering, and your inner strength is amazing. You are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I have always known you are a very special young man. With much love and admiration, Nina Childress (Pam's Mom)
ReplyDeleteJosh, thank you for choosing to be positive. You are certainly a role model to others and an inspiration to me. I will continue to pray for you, your family and those medical breakthroughs a.k.a miracles.
ReplyDeleteKaren Griswold
Beautifully written Josh. You are such an inspiration. We've never met, but I knew Jennifer in elementary school. Thank you for your words. May God give you strength every second, every minute, and every hour of each day.
ReplyDeleteJanna Brock
What a positive attitude! You are always in our prayers & thoughts! You have a wonderful family! Kelsey & Kent
ReplyDeleteThe most important thing that your disease has not taken, or ever will, is your humanity and ability to love. You light up all of our lives!
ReplyDeleteJ & J McClintock
Amen to that! Josh's manly character has not been taken from him. HIs love for his young family is evident in what he has written.
Delete"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)
ReplyDeleteHey Josh... sorry i missed the deal yesterday. I'm Ann (Reagan) Stephens. I graduated with Delynn and worked with your mom at school... my brother Randy graduated with your Dad. You have really been on my heart recently.. just wanted you to be encouraged. I believe God is up to something :)
I’d like to share my feelings about Josh for anybody interested in reading. For what it’s worth, Josh Butler has always been an inspiration to me. I grew up playing basketball a year under Josh, always admiring how good of a player Josh was. It wasn’t just his great physical abilities in the game, but his mental abilities as well. Josh always kept a cool, calm, and collected head on his shoulders. He didn’t seem to ever get frustrated, always emitted a good attitude, and was a very pleasurable person to have on your team. Not to mention he would never miss anything from behind the 3 point line, ha! Josh really set a great example for folks like me that didn’t have such great attributes at the time. I was always having problems with my attitude and would rarely let things roll off my back, usually, visually showing my frustrations. It really got me into a lot of trouble and helped me to build a not so good reputation. It was a lot for me to eventually overcome and a lot for me to realize that I did not have the right frame of mind and outlook on life. I’ve been very fortunate to have more folks in my life, like Josh, that have set a great example for me to follow and learn from. Although most of them may not know they were helping me, I owe my successes in life to all of ‘em. I can’t describe how much admiration and respect I have for Josh’s continued strength and positive outlook on life. Thanks, Josh. You are a role model for all! You and your family will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteYou make me sound too good. I did lose my cool at times and I remember missing a 3 one time, haha. Thanks for the compliments man. It's words like yours that keep me going. I appreciate it.
DeleteJosh,
ReplyDeleteI just found out about all this yesterday, did a search and there was this Blog. The first thing I thought of was that doctor that ended people’s life’s for them because they were terminally ill. I thought it’s moments like these as I read the pure passion of your heart on these pages, that I realized what that doctor was taking away. These words written from the heart of a person living a life in what we deem as normal, will never move people the way your words do. We talk as Christians about being a light for God, man reading this I can honestly say your life is bright. My family is praying for you and your family. I didn’t know about the benefit, is there any other way to donate post benefit?
A human life is a story told by God. ~Hans Christian Andersen