Michael J. Fox’s health has been messed up by Parkinson’s disease. Still, the star is always upbeat and happy, no matter what is going on. Here is his story of how he overcame adversity.
People know him as Marty McFly from the Back to the Future movies and Alex P. Keaton from the TV show Family Ties. But at the time, no one knew that his best trait would be his ability to face his own death with grace and joy.
Michael J. Fox stays happy and helps others even though he has lost loved ones, broken bones, and Parkinson’s disease. Some people may call him the most optimistic person ever, but I call him the most hopeful person ever.
When Michael J. Fox found out he had Parkinson’s disease in 1991, he knew his life would change, if not end. Michael lost his mother and had other bad things happen while he was fighting this disease that made him weak. His life would be like a modern-day Job, where nothing went right and everything was hard.
He had surgery to remove a tumor from his spinal cord. Later, he broke more than one bone. Micheal seemed to take it all in stride when he said, “I broke my cheek, then my hand, then my shoulder, had a replacement shoulder put in, broke my right arm, and then I broke my elbow.” I’m 61, and I’m starting to feel it a bit more.”
Getting joy even when things are bad
Where did he get his strength and good attitude? It was given to him by his mother, who was a soldier’s wife. He saw that she was strong, had a good attitude, and handled everything with ease. What a wonderful gift his mother gave him, and what a good reminder for parents that what we do and how much we love our kids can change the world for them.
As Michael J. Fox moves on from the last few hard years, he has a raw hope in his eyes and a spring in his step. Even though he has Parkinson’s and his health isn’t great, Michael J. Fox is thankful for the little things, like not falling down, his wife, and his friends who have been there for him when he’s been sick.
“It’s been hard, but I’m happy,” he said. I say that because I hope that, no matter what, people can find happiness on some level.
How’s your faith? Does yours spring back like Michael’s? God knows that it’s hard for us all to find and keep hope.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast after you have suffered a little while,” says 1 Peter 5:10.