Update from the Battle Lines

March 21, 2013 By 6 Comments

Earlier this year, I declared war on Fibromyalgia and I said I would keep you updated. To be honest, I feel a little bad using such strong words against my condition. Fibromyalgia is not the enemy. In fact, it is more of a friend. How could I call it anything less when it has brought me so close to God?

Nevertheless, my fibro-friend needs to lighten up a bit and learn to work with me a little better.

Would you like to know how it’s going?

Well, slow. That’s to be expected. You want to ease fibro into new things. If you sneak up and surprise it, you’ll regret it.

When I think back, I felt best when I was taking care of myself nutritionally. Quality vitamins are important for a body. That is where I started.Step One: Vitamins & Supplements

I spent lots of time researching what might be the best supplements for my physical and mental needs. Here are some needs I considered:

  • Energy
  • Muscle recovery
  • Joint health
  • Immunity
  • Brain function
  • Digestive health

I looked online and considered some of the well-known, more expensive nutritional supplements. After comparing prices, ingredients and reviews, I decided to go with what I could find at GNC. They had everything I was looking for with good quality, but a better price.

I began feeling a difference within a few days. I felt great within a couple weeks.  So, I knew it was time to take on something new.

This is when trouble usually comes. When I am feeling great, I believe I can do anything. Then my body tells me otherwise. So, I have to be careful.

My something “new” was to become more consistent with exercise. A fibromyalgic body should do half the work and have twice the rest. I once read that the best way to introduce exercise is to add one segment at a time over a long period. That means that you begin with posture. Once you feel confident that you have a strong posture, you can move on to stretching. After about a week of that, you can add a warm-up to your routine and then low-impact exercise a week later, and so on. It sounds like a good plan, but it is one I have never succeeded in. It is too boring and too long of a process. I have never felt like I was accomplishing anything with that plan.

This time, I decided to build up time of exercise. I started with a very short five minute routine I found on youtube with the plan of adding five to ten minutes a month, up to an hour. Even that plan sounds slow, but it is important to give a sensitive system time to adjust and strengthen.

Once I got to ten minutes, I was feeling pretty good about myself and also, a little impatient. (That’s my biggest problem in this process.) So, one day after a workout, I invited my neighbor to go for a walk. Our walks are long and leisurely, but still are a lot for me. I did not take into account that I also needed to go shopping that day and that I would be teaching ten children in Bible class that night. Oops. That set me back quite a bit. In fact, it knocked me out of commission for a few days.

Lesson learned? Be thankful for feeling good and be content for where I am.  Also, think ahead. I may feel good now, but what does the rest of the day have in store? (That should be an automatic question for most fibro-warriors.)

Now it is March and I am still feeling pretty good. Of course, I have a long way to go. More changes are to come. In fact, I am in the process of changing my diet now. I look forward to telling you more about that next time!

 

 

Image courtesy of [image creator name] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Filed Under: Accountability, Battles, Goals, Physical Tagged With: , , , 6 Comments

Heart Health Month

February 18, 2013 By 4 Comments

Eleven years ago I peddled a big bike with about thirty other people as a fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The previous year, my mother-in-law had taken action for her health and survived heart disease. Now, I peddled in her honor.  This is my heart truth, my heart story.

Together we are powerful. Let's unite and get to the heart of good health.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in North America. More women than men will die from a first heart attack. More women will die from heart disease than cancer.

Why are the chances so high? The symptoms of heart disease in women are different from those in men and not as easily recognized. Prevention and early detection are key to survival. Therefore, it is important for women to educate themselves and become proactive in their own heart health.

“Taking good care of your heart means controlling your risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, and being overweight. Having just one risk factor increases your risk of developing heart disease, and your risk skyrockets with each added risk factor.”  – National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

In honor of American Heart Month, I have gathered some helpful resources to help you minimize the risk.

These are just a few of the many websites available on such an important topic, but they are a good place to start. The most important thing you can do right now for your heart health is to schedule a complete check-up with your physician and ask to have your cardiovascular health, including your cholesterol and blood pressure, checked.

We are a people of The Story. Jesus used stories to teach his followers. We share our stories to tell about Jesus. It is the story of Jesus that leads us to the Father. Heart disease does not have to be the end of your story. What will your next chapter be?

Write the next chapter of your heart story. Learn how to lower your heart disease risk.

Filed Under: Uncategorized 4 Comments

Fibromyalgia? Bring It On!

January 28, 2013 By 16 Comments

This is the year I kick Fibromyalgia in the tushie. I proclaimed it in the MLG community and have since repeated it elsewhere.

For most of my life, I have lived with pain. I sat on the sidelines as a child and was ridiculed for it as a pre-teen. During adolescence, I learned to suck it up and move on. In young adulthood, the pain began to control most of my days.

Several years ago, pain was keeping me down most of the time. Despite prayer and medication, I felt like I was being swallowed up by Fibromyalgia. Everything I did, every choice I made, was determined by how it would affect my body. It ruled my life.

I tried to take my life back. I researched and planned. I grew zealous and got busy. I tried to beat Fibromyalgia several times, but I failed every time.  Every time I failed, it felt like a failure in trying to live.

To be honest, it felt that way because I was trying to be someone else. I was trying to remake myself or become the ideal I had pictured in my mind. Instead of submitting my will to Jesus and allowing Him to lead my make-over, I was taking control.

When you give your life to Jesus, however, it’s His.  Sure, you can take it back, but nothing will be the same. Your spirit knows better and will not feel good about it. Thus, I failed at my attempts to take my life back.

It was not until I surrendered control of my health to Jesus that I began to see the gift that Fibromyalgia is. I wrote an entire series about that journey here. In short, because of Fibromyalgia, I learned to surrender the beginning of every day to Christ and to live fully in His strength.

Fibromyalgia does not control my life now, but it does affect most of my days. I hope that when people look at me, they see a girl who lives in Christ and not a girl who suffers, or even a girl who lives by her own strength. I believe that Christ has done a good work in me. Of course, I get impatient and try to run ahead of the Lord, but He quickly pulls me back and reminds me to follow.

I am confident now that it is time to step things up a notch and experience greater health. It will be tempting to take this fight against pain into my own hands. I will be honest about that, but I will also do the following to make sure this is by Christ’s leading:

  • Continue to submit every day in prayer
  • Humbly accept my weakness as a door to God’s strength
  • Believe that His grace is enough
  • Prayerfully consider the advice of others and weigh it against biblical principles
  • Be willing to try new things, but not take it personally when they do not work
  • View my body as the Lord’s temple and treat it accordingly
  • Take each step slowly and listen to the alarms God has given my body
  • Recognize bad days as times of rest, but not as reason to give up
  • Give glory to God for the success He grants

I look forward to sharing this battle with the community at MLG, as I hope to report my progress every month.  I pray that in this battle you will see the most important thing: We Must Love God.

Image courtesy of [image creator name] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: Battles, Physical, Spiritual Tagged With: , , , 16 Comments

A New Year, A New Word, and The Great Commission

January 21, 2013 By 8 Comments

If I were to divide time by experience, my new year would have begun in November. The previous year would have lasted from July, 2011 to October, 2012. Yes, it was a long year.

One might have called that time the “Year of Suffering.” It was a year in which we experienced great loss, multiple moves, serious injury, and unemployment. Of course, each event was met by the emotional aftermath. Admittedly, we did not always emerge as triumphant conquerors. No, we were humbled in our suffering, always landing on our knees.

Although it was the most difficult year I have lived, it was undoubtedly the best year of my spiritual life.  I could copy and paste the entire book of 1 Peter, plus a few others to tell you why.  What could have been the year of Resist, Reject or Cease, became something to embrace.

In need of focus, something to point me to Christ when life threatened to pull me away, I chose one word. No resolutions. (Who can keep resolutions amidst such chaos?) Just one word was all I needed. One word would whisper my heart back into focus.

Abide.

Actually, I did not choose the word. It chose me.

The word first appeared when I was preparing to speak for a local home school group. I was scheduled as the “feature family” to share our values, philosophies and experience. While still wading through fallout from our recent trauma, I received a flaming letter from someone close. It shook me up so much that I wanted to skip the meeting. How could I encourage other parents when I was so discouraged?

He whispered to me, “This is not about you… abide in me.”

That night, I stood up and admitted that I did not want to be there. I confessed that my day had been hard and that nothing I could say would do anyone any good. If anything good was to come from that night, it would be through Christ. In fact, if anything good was going to come from any of us, we had to live in Him. We had to abide.

I spoke those words when we were just a few days from moving out of my in-law’s home. It would be a fresh start. I believed that things would finally get better and that we would finally be able to heal. 2012 was still two months away. I had no idea what was coming or how important the one word would become.

There were days when all I could do was abide. Some days began with passionate tears and groans. There were also days bombarded by fear. My heart pounded and my stomach burned. Yet, I was able to find joy, peace, and love because of that one word.

In 2012, I learned to Abide in Christ. I learned to live by the strength of his Spirit and that, when we do so, we are more than conquerors.

I am thankful for the previous year, but I will not pretend that I enjoyed it. I am glad it is over. Will I welcome suffering when it returns? Like an old friend, but I will not invite it. No, I am happy for this new year.

Now, I hear a new word.  It is a word that brings with it promise and excitement. It is a word that will answer my fears and doubts. It is a word that cannot be fulfilled without the choice to abide.

Now, my word is. . .

Go.

As I abide in Christ, “Go,” becomes not only possible, but meaningful.

After the apostles learned to abide, they were commissioned to go.  From twelve men, the message of Christ was spread because they obeyed and chose to go. The ripples from their choice have reached all over the world and across multiple generations.

I get goose bumps when I imagine what God can do, and shiver when I remember that He will do even more. I will obey and choose to go, but only with His promise to abide.

Have you recently come through difficult times? Are you living through them now? Be still, loved one, and learn to abide. Your time will come.

Filed Under: Battles, One Word Tagged With: , , , 8 Comments

Love Came to Stay

December 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It’s advent season. For four weeks, people all over the world are following devotionals, reading stories, doing crafts and hanging ornaments on trees. They are preparing their hearts for a celebration of Christ’s birth. They are celebrating Immanuel, God with us.  Love came down and I have the privilege of writing about it.

There is a problem, though. I do not feel like it.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas. I love everything about it: the lights, the smells, the music and the mayhem. I love trees, elves, stockings and Saint Nicolas. I love advent stories and songs about baby Jesus. There is not one thing about Christmas I dislike.

This year, I am having trouble getting into the spirit of it all. If you could see my house, you would understand.

There are boxes piled from floor to ceiling in almost every room. Despite daily sweeping, I cannot keep the floor clean. My walls are drab, my tables are bare and my shelves are empty. Why all the chaos?

We are moving. Just eleven days before Christmas, we are moving across the border. We are leaving my husband’s homeland and returning to mine. Well, my country of origin, anyway. My homeland will still be thousands of miles away.

That is not all. From where I sit, I can see a stack of children’s clothing. They are all clothes suitable for the dress code at a private school. I have set them aside to pack in a suitcase that will be easily spotted and quickly unpacked. You see, five days after we move, my children will no longer be home schooled.

After teaching my children at home for eight years, I will be handing them over to be educated by someone else. It was a difficult decision which was only made after a lot of prayer. Even as I write the words to be published for the very first time, I feel a mix of flutters and pangs.

All this change comes after a season full of struggles. The change is good, but it is consuming.

My mind is consumed with change.

I see all the advent devotionals and activities others plan to do. I have even downloaded a few for free. I know what time of year it is, but I cannot sync my mind or my heart with the rest of the world.

When I started this post, I was feeling a little down about it. I seriously wondered how I could write this. How can I write a post for advent when the only thing I am waiting for is the removal of all these boxes? Then I realized that it is alright. It is just fine that I am not into it this year.

You see, love did not come down so that I would tune in my heart for one month a year. Love did not come down so that I would remember only on special days.

No, love came down in the form of a baby who would grow up to eventually leave, but not to leave forever. He left so that He could return as the Spirit to live with us forever. Not just to live with us, but to live in us. Every day is special in Him.

So, in a season when most of Christendom turns their minds to the coming of the newborn King, I am choosing to walk with Him through the season He has chosen for me. This year, my advent is in anticipation of the great changes God is bringing about.

If you think about it, isn’t that what we should all be doing? After a season full of difficulties, love came down and brought about change. Now, every year we celebrate that change and look forward to the transformation it brings to our daily lives and even more so, to the consummation of it all.

Next year, I will join you. I will pull out my favourite Christmas books and devotionals. I will do cheerful little crafts with my children and teach them what all these symbols mean. Next year, I will celebrate this special time of year as I always have.

Until then, I will embrace each day as special and remember that love came down to stay.

(P.S. Don’t worry. I will pull out the Christmas tree along with all the books and music as soon as I finish unpacking my kitchen. My children will not go without Christmas this year; the season will just not be as long as usual.)

Filed Under: Battles, Emotional, Spiritual Tagged With: , , , , Leave a Comment

Embracing Silliness and Other Pre-Adolescent Qualities

November 12, 2012 By 11 Comments

Embracing Silliness

“Would you stop that?!” It was hard to believe that the eight year old’s words were directed at her eleven year old brother. (Ok. . . maybe not so weird, but in context. . . yes, weird. Just work with me here.)

I laughed to myself as I realized I am not the only one occasionally irritated by the pre-teen humor. Our oldest child, who has always been an “old soul” has suddenly found “silly.” It came as a bit of a surprise and seemed to coincide with several other changes.

I was the mother of a boy who wanted nothing more than to play outdoors and spend time with his animals. He thought being dirty was fun and took great pride in the dirt underneath his fingernails. He never had any interest in girls. In fact, he could not stay far enough away. He was a serious fellow, who was easily annoyed by the foolishness of others.

Then, one morning I woke up to the sound of the shower running. A brand new child emerged from the steam and informed me that deodorant was now a necessity. Did I detect a trace of cologne? (I am guessing there is an older cousin to blame for that.)

A new haircut and “hair glue” were soon to follow. All of a sudden, clean clothes were valuable, as was the location of the nail clippers. When a reason was demanded for this new-found self-awareness, I was informed of the importance of always looking and smelling one’s best. (I will leave the most important reason up to your imagination.)

Oh dear, it has come! It’s the change and I’m not talking about menopause.

Once I realized what it was, I considered running for the hills or possibly looking into boarding school. I remembered being asked while I was pregnant if I hoped for a boy or girl. At the time, I was sure I did not want to experience life with a boy in his pre-adolescent years. In my experience, they were cocky, smelly and obnoxious creatures. You can imagine my fear when my turn had come to parent through this stage.

About the time the need for clean pressed in, I felt a new tension with my son. His need for further independence clashed with my desire to protect. I had to change my way of thinking and take a few steps back. It was time to trust God to continue His good work despite my inadequacies.

Philippians 1:6

In order to trust God, it is important to give thanks for that good work. In Philippians 4:6, Paul tells us to talk to God about the things that make us anxious. He also says we are to do this “with thanksgiving.” When we give thanks for what He has done and what He will do, our fears begin to dissolve.

Being thankful for puberty was not on my to-do list as a mother, but it is on God’s. As I have submitted my thoughts to Him and chosen to be thankful, I have discovered that life with an almost twelve-year-old can actually be enjoyable.

The silliness that caused his sister to groan in disgust eventually brought a smile to my face. It drew me in and engaged my laughter. When I decided to play along, I felt a burst of youthfulness and joy. Together, we set the table in spastic dance and invited the family to dinner in goofy accents. A routine moment, a menial chore, had become the highlight of our day.

The clash between independence and protection is moving toward a more mature relationship as a new trust is built on respect and perseverance. Conversations are becoming more meaningful and memorable.  Moment by moment, I have learned that there is much to be thankful for.

What I feared would be cocky, smelly and obnoxious, is proving to be self-confident, fresh, and inspiring. We are only at the beginning of this adolescent journey, but I am thankful for the bright start. For I am confident that God, who began this good thing in my son, will keep working in him until he is complete in Christ Jesus!

 

All the credit for these photos goes to the creative silliness of  my pre-adolescent son.

Filed Under: Emotional, Gratitude, Parenting Tagged With: , , 11 Comments

Being a Friend Through Infertility

October 8, 2012 By 14 Comments

A hard lump formed in my throat and tears burned inside my eyes as I focused my vision on the opening scenes. “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” took me by surprise. What I thought would be a fun outing for the children had become a walk down memory lane for me.

After being told there was nothing left to do, the infertile couple drove home in silent reflection of the last few months. I have driven down that road. My mind lingered in remembrance of tests, promises, phone calls and finally, the answer.

Strong emotion stirred within me as the woman in the movie locked herself in an empty nursery and mourned for what might have been. I recalled holding back my tears until a night away gave opportunity for release. And when she walked out of the nursery to declare, “It’s finished.” I remembered my own resolve to move on; “Not my will, but yours.”

The movie captured my attention and gave pause for thought in many areas of life, but the issue of infertility rang most true. Unlike the couple in the movie, our journey came as a surprise since my womb had already held one child.

They call it secondary infertility, but I called it prison. Counting days, taking pills, and tracking bodily functions, became a ritual of pursuing a goal beyond my reach. Waiting in the OB’s office with pregnant women, succumbing to invasive procedures and listening to empty promises felt more like torture than help.  We laid the boundaries and when they were reached, we knew it was over.

As we silently drove home, a weight lifted from my shoulders and I remembered to trust God. Our first baby was a miracle and so would any others be. This fertility issue was out of my hands and I was free!

Do you know someone with secondary infertility?

Have you stopped to consider what they might be going through?

Infertility comes as a shock after previous success. Even though we had waited three years for our first positive pregnancy test, we figured we had this conception gig down. We guessed the rest would be easy. Almost four years later, we were told otherwise. That was eight years ago and my womb remains empty.

The social stigma can be just as difficult as the ache for a baby. According to Resolve (The National Infertility Association),

“Sadly, couples with secondary infertility tend to receive less social support from others than couples who have primary infertility because the infertility is unacknowledged, the pain associated with infertility is invisible as the couple has a child, and there is no concrete loss in the family. In addition, couples experiencing secondary infertility may be recipients of criticism by others who think they should be grateful for one child and that it is foolish to go to extremes to increase family size.”

In addition, people assumed we did not want more children, which was a painful misconception to correct.

Have you found a way to just be there?

I felt misunderstood when people advised me to relax or have faith. When we announced that the pursuit was over, people assured us we would finally conceive. They did it again when we announced plans to adopt. People were trying to help, but all we needed was acceptance where we were at and for others to support our choices. We did not need any more predictions or promises.

People accused me of giving up when I gave away maternity clothes along with bins of baby clothes. They did not see the joy I experienced by blessing someone else. Seeing the clothes used again warmed my heart, and I knew it was God’s will. He would be faithful to provide in the future. I was not giving up hope, but setting dreams free by placing them on the altar.

There is always hope when we trust God for his plan.

Now that our family is complete, the empty womb is completely forgotten . . . by others. I will never forget, but give thanks for secondary infertility. Had it not been for my first son, I would not have known what I was missing and then wanted more. Had it not been for an empty womb, I may not have opened arms to my second son and daughter.

God is the one who brought our family together.  He used special people and circumstances to make it happen. Every child in our home is a miracle.

Just as my story is different from Timothy Green’s, your friend’s story will be different from mine. Sorrow and joy are common in every story, as well as the need for friendship. Are you willing to be a constant and supportive friend?

 

Filed Under: Battles, Emotional, Friendship Tagged With: , , , , , , 14 Comments

Think About These Things

September 19, 2012 By 7 Comments

Welcome! We’ve created a Special Series for you this month! We’ll
take 4 weeks and focus on 4 elements to ‘Reset’ our lives for Him.
We’re calling it ’4×4 Reset’. If you missed the introduction, you
can find more details here. Each post will feature a READ IT
(scripture verse), a SEE IT (motivation), & a DO IT (challenge/
call to action). Our 4×4 Reset Toolbox is available and has links
to all the posts and to our resources, including our Build a Firm
Foundation Printable tracking page. Be sure to subscribe to not
miss a day, & join us on Twitter & Instagram using our hashtag
#4x4Reset!

Think About These Things

 

“I’m a failure. Why even try?”

“I might as well accept the way I am.”

“How can I ever succeed when no one around me is trying?”

“She’s a natural. I’ll never measure up.”

Sound familiar? These thoughts keep us from chasing dreams and fulfilling God’s purpose. They keep us from physical goals like healthy eating or exercising. Thoughts condemn when we succumb to temptation or fail to reach a standard. They hold us back from mental pursuits and emotional healing. Allowing them to continue can destroy us.

The apostle Paul knew this struggle. The things he decided not to do would trip him up, attempting to land him on his back.  The power of sin in him was strong at times, resulting in great frustration. Just like us, he loved God’s commands and wanted to obey, but his flesh would catch him when least expected and take control.  (Romans 7: 15-25)

There is hope in Christ! He has set straight these contradictions of spiritual desires and fleshly thoughts.

After sharing his battle of flesh and spirit, Paul said there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) The very first thing we must do when condemning thoughts arise is to claim the promise of grace.

Then we must reset of our thoughts. Thoughts set on the flesh (what we can and cannot do) bring failure. Thoughts set on the Spirit (his power in us) bring success. (Romans 8:5-7)

Finally, we must change our thoughts to whatever is true, excellent and praiseworthy. Bible reading, study and memorization are so important. Without his word in our hearts, we cannot focus our minds on these things.

I can do all things through Christ.

Here are a few steps to make this process practical: (Saying these things aloud is powerful.)

  1. Say “stop” or “cancel” to condemning thoughts.
  2. Claim the promise of grace in Jesus.
  3. Recognize that we are powerless to save ourselves and salvation is through Christ alone.
  4. Speak biblical truth for the situation.
  5. Praise God!

Unless we live in relationship with God, our minds will always be set on our own abilities. It is Christ, not the process, who wins the battle in our minds. May you embrace the freedom he offers!

Read it:

See it:

A peaceful reminder set to beautiful music and artwork.

Do it:

For example, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” could go under “self-doubt.”

Filed Under: 4x4Reset Tagged With: , , 7 Comments