It’s been almost 3 months in my challenge to see if gaining more Christ-Like love could help my physical health. I’ve been focusing on the virtues listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
I started this journey with patience. This month I added kindness. I’m learning a lot about patience and kindness, and I’m working on improving these virtues.
I know that I have felt more at peace with my health and the challenges that come with it. I am learning to be patient with my body. I am also learning to be kinder to myself. I am enjoying my life more, and I feel like my health has been less of a barrier to my ability to do the things I want to do.
Still, I really didn’t expect to see any change in my physical health and my inflammation markers. I have faith that this can help, but it has only been a couple of months. Nothing else I have tried has made any difference in my lab numbers. I’ve tried all kinds of natural remedies. I tried exercising regularly, eating according to the anti-inflammatory diet and lots of other diets, and taking all kinds of supplements. None of these made any change for the better, and most actually raised my inflammatory markers. So, my expectations weren’t high that I would see a positive change with this challenge.
Well, I was wrong. I had my blood drawn during what would usually be a very difficult and stressful time, and my inflammatory markers are down!!
Now, I am not down to any healthy levels, but I am 6 points down from my average levels! This is huge! And it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
We know that my disease responds to stress. My doctors have told me over and over again to “Avoid stress at all costs.” To me, they might as well have told me to avoid touching the ground when I walked. I have 8 children including a son with profound disabilities. I have severe health challenges. And I live in the world. I didn’t think anything short of a medically induced coma could allow me to avoid stress.
Who knew that focusing on being more patient and kind would help me to feel less stress and more peace? I’m sure our Savior does. I’m sure that The Prince of Peace knows very well how developing these virtues and trying to be more like Him could help us to feel more peace in our lives.
I’m really encouraged by these results! I’m grateful for this prompting to try this very unconventional approach to improving my health. I know that this came as an answer to prayer.
I’m excited to keep going on this journey. I know that as I work on developing these virtues, I will become a better person. Now, I also have real hope that it can cause a meaningful improvement in my physical health!
Thank you so much to those of you who have been trying this with me and supporting me in this! It is so much easier to do this together!
#Heatherslovechallenge