On November 10th, I started experiencing the worst pain in my abdomen I had felt since having kids. I started going back and forth on what it could be. I stayed home from church on that night with a heating pad on my stomach. I continued having pain for over a week when I finally decided it was time to go get it taken care of.
My doctor is very thorough so she sent me for blood work and an ultrasound. A few of the possible things I had were appendicitis, ovarian cysts (which I knew I had), and possibly cancer. I had an ultrasound that showed spots on my kidney, something "abnormal" on my liver. They could not get me in for another ultrasound until the end of the week. I was still in a lot of pain during this time, but they didn't want to give me anything until they knew what was wrong with me. I tried not to worry and rest in the fact that God is the best physician I know! Well Friday finally came, I did not sleep the night before. The ultrasound went well, of course she could not tell me much. Well by 3:00 pm my doctor had called me with the results. Diverticulitis! I had heard this term before. Our pastor's wife has it as well. Funny thing is that our Pastor had told us it sounded a lot like what his wife has and I should go on a liquid died. He told us that at my first onset of pain. Lesson learned....listen to your Pastor!!
My white blood count was very high so they put me on an antibiotic as well.
Ok so now what. I spent the whole evening Friday researching what diverticulitis was exactly. Not pretty, in any form. It's basically little pockets that have formed in the large intestine that traps stuff. It's caused from years of eating junk! So we purged the cupboards this weekend. We are trusting in God to provide the extra funds needed to eat the things I have to.
I started searching Scripture to see what God had to say about our bodies. He really has a lot to say!! I started with 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." Ouch! This got me to thinking, have I been honoring God with my body? I mean I quit smoking, I do not drink...so I was taking care of it. Right?! Not really! I was putting "foreign" things into my body in the form of food. I'm talking about processed, boxed, and full of extra "stuff" so it can sit on the shelf for a year foods. A diet of these kinds of foods has literally started eating away at my digestive system.
Making our food from scratch is not that hard! I've posted on this very blog how easy it is to make your own Cream of...Soup. But my laziness got the best of me! It was easier to just go to the store and purchase a can of it to use. Homemade macaroni and cheese is not that hard to make. It does not take that long either.
2 Corinthians 7:1 says, "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." I know this verse is talking about doing away with the actions and attitudes that were leading them astray. But if I'm feeding my body junk I am not going to be able to serve God in the way He wants me to. Life is full of choices, not only the choice to follow God and accept Christ, but the daily choices we make in life. Food has become my comfort. When I'm happy, sad, stressed, or upset I turn to food. When in reality I need to turn to God!!
I am re-reading "Made to Crave" by Lysa TerKeurst. In chapter 17 she is talking about choices. "We were created to be God's representatives as we live out loud the message of God in our daily lives. But I'll be honest, the last thing I feel like doing when I'm living in a defeated state with my food issues is to reach out to other people."
I struggle with food! But I love it! I will attempt to document my transformation with my new food lifestyle. It will not be easy. I've been on a liquid diet since Friday. My body is not happy! Yes Praise God! the pains are gone. But I have a headache that is fierce. I tend to get grumpy when I don't get what I want when it comes to food. I'm being real honest here! I would appreciate prayers for me and my family.
3 comments:
Bravo! I'm on a similar journey. I didn't have a sickness to get my attention but the Holy Spirit was relentless in reminding me of what I already knew-obey. And in my case, not eating so much! I've lost 16 pounds in about 6 weeks. I haven't exercised really at all for 4 of those weeks. It all has to do with NOT eating. I die daily. :o) Have you heard of Sparks People? It's a great free website to help you be healthy and lose weight. One key component is documenting all the food you eat. It really surprising how many calories are in food and how much we actually need. I've got plenty of honesty on my blog if you want to be encouraged, just search my weightloss tag. Pictures and everything! If we stay in the light with our eating issues then they can't have power over us!
Blessings on your journey! God will be with you each step of the way and you will be so happy to know that you have followed His leading!
Mrs. Taffy
www.mylifeonataffypull.blogspotcom
Wow, I am sorry. I am asking God to give you strength and grace as you go forward on this new journey. I have Made to Crave in my Kindle and have yet to read it. I think I am avoiding the issue.
I'll be glad to pray for you as you work on forming new eating habits! That is a difficult thing for me as well. In early September I decided to start exercising 5 days a week and to start eating healthier foods and much less junk (allowing for an occasional sweet treat). It has not been easy at all, but I'm gradually doing better. I know you can do it!!
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