'Magic' Johnson's Wife, Cookie Johnson, Dedicates Memoir to God 'Believing in Magic'
Before releasing her memoir detailing her life with her famed basketball legend husband, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Cookie Johnson is dedicating her upcoming book to God.
"The time is here, in one week on 9/20 'Believing in Magic' will be released!! I dedicate this book to God," Cookie wrote on Instagram. "Without Him, my obstacles would have been unconquerable. Always, He is by my side, guiding, directing, and carrying me when I cannot stand on my own. #BelievingInMagicBook #TheCookieJ."
Johnson's Instagram message came along with a graphic image of the scripture Hebrews 12:2 which states, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (KJV)
In the upcoming book Believing in Magic: My Story of Love, Overcoming Adversity, and Keeping the Faith, people will get a glimpse of the life of NBA Hall-Of-Famer Magic Johnson's wife after she learned that her husband was diagnosed with HIV, 25 years ago.
"On November 7, 1991, basketball icon Earvin 'Magic' Johnson stunned the world with the news that he was HIV-positive. For the millions who watched, his announcement became a pivotal moment not only for the nation, but his family and wife," a description of the book reads on the Simon and Schuster website. "Twenty-five years later, Cookie Johnson shares her story and the emotional journey that started on that day—from life as a pregnant and joyous newlywed to one filled with the fear that her husband would die, she and her baby would be infected with the virus, and their family would be shunned. Believing in Magic is the story of her marriage to Earvin nearly four decades of loving each other, losing their way, and eventually finding a path they never imagined…"
The book will detail the tumultuous relationship that the Johnsons endured before getting married 25 years ago and how they overcame the life changing diagnosis that Cookie found out about while pregnant with their first child, EJ Johnson. While Cookie will get candid about many of the ups and downs in her marriage, she made it clear that her husband is a blessing and glorified God for him on his birthday last month. "25 years of excellent health! Praise God," she wrote on Instagram in August. "You have been a true blessing to our family and I love you with all my heart, I pray that God will continue to have favor on you, because you are obedient to His word."
Johnson, the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Sparks, has been vocal about his faith throughout the years even when it comes to dealing with his son's homosexuality. In a highly publicized 2013 interview with CNN news correspondent Anderson Cooper, the former basketball star spoke about reconciling his faith with the fact that his son, now 24-year-old EJ, is gay.
"I go to church, I'm a Christian, but the reality is, my son is gay," he said. "That is the reality. And I tell pastors that, I tell other pastors that. I tell black Christians who came out with me. But I say, I love my son, nothing is going to change that."