A few weeks ago, I woke one morning with so much joint pain and weakness it scared me. Researching online I had all the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. I felt hopeless as I read the prognosis. Now, just three weeks later, I have very little pain, and though tired from my early morning start, I am not exhausted. Today marks three weeks my husband and I have been on the Mediterranean Diet and swimming at the Health Club every other day. My hope has been restored!
How many times before having been hopeful, felt despair when a new diet failed? For me, it’s never been about losing weight, but feeling better. I have tried just about everything and have spent a small fortune. I was never able to maintain, and the weight and fatigue returned. The Bible says hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. What’s my dream? I want to live a long life and see my children and grandchildren living thier dreams and someday play with my great-grandchildren. Today, I have hope. My strength is returning, the pain is leaving, and I no longer think I have RA.
Now I must just simply stay the course. Letting the days turn to weeks, and weeks into months just doing what I am doing. I need to guard against the things that steal my time and focus when unexpected life events come my way. How do I do that? By keeping my dream before me. Reminding myself I want to live a long, healthy life. And I am not just doing this for me, but for my husband too. And this is working for us.
I truly believe that God led us to this lifestyle because He wants this for us even more than we do. I have learned over the years, that God’s plan for my life is always good. I am the one that messes it up by trying to do everything in my own strength and not letting Him help me. When I seek Him, he never fails to show me the way. When fear gripped my heart because of the way I was feeling physically a few weeks ago, I sought Him. He answered. I listened, did the homework on this lifestyle, and we began. I will live to have my dream fulfilled! Hope has been restored!
