Detours

 Construction, construction everywhere! A simple trip to the doctor had me winding my way throughout the city to simply get back home. It was not my choice, but it did make me think as I sat in line at several stop lights.

Life is full of detours. They are typically not our choice, winding our life journey through areas we never planned to travel and taking much longer for us to reach our desired destination. 

God tells us that His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways our ways. Isaiah 55:8-12 He takes us places that we don't necessarily want to go, but He has purpose. 

It reminds me of when the Israelites left Egypt in Exodus 13. God took them on a round-about route as they were not yet ready for the challenges of a direct route. He was protecting them. He was teaching them lessons that they could not have learned another way. 

My journey with this new treatment feels as if there are detours. This week, I see small areas of progress, but not nearly as quickly as I would like. I want to be better yesterday. I began to be weary in the constant traffic that comes with chronic illness. God reminded me of Matthew 11:28-30. He calls the weary to Himself. What a promise! 

Detours in life come. Events happen that seem to take us away from our goals. Yet, God will journey with us through these detours, doing things in His time. Trust Him. For, He knows the way through the wilderness!

Myrtle the Turtle

As a teen, one of my nickname's was Myrtle the Turtle. It was given affectionately based in love due to my very slow pace due to my disability. This journey to health feels as if that nickname fits again. Yet, I have been quite ill for 3.5 years and it will not change overnight. I do see small improvements each week. Little by little, healing is happening. This week, so far, I have been able to make my move goal. It is a small victory!

Each day, by God's grace, I work to do what is needed to improve that day, just a little. Isn't that like our spiritual walk? Growth is slow but sure. Yet, God walks the journey with us. He never leaves us! Hebrews 13:5. 

And so... Myrtle the Turtle will keep crawling along. :)

A New Journey

October 2018 began a journey of three and a half years of health complications. It has been a long journey with one issue after another. 

In September 2019, it became evident that to maintain even basic health for the foreseeable future, I needed to be isolated from allergens and germs. This meant redoing many, many things in my home, learning a completely new lifestyle, and becoming used to disappointment as plans change frequently due to illness or exposure to illness. Errands have to be made around the weather and allergen levels. I became used to a new normal before the rest of the world. :)

My immune system/allergy issues are just one small piece of the puzzle. Basically, my health was falling apart. Multiple steroids daily with additional rounds of high-dose steroids in times of stress/acute illness as well as being on antibiotics more than off meant intense weight issues and side effects in each system in my body. In the past few years, I have undergone months and months of both physical and occupational therapy as I learned to deal with new weaknesses, falls and loss of coordination. Yet, in all this time, I was praying for strength, not healing. God had answered.

Then, God changed my heart to pray for healing. The very next day, my brother gave me a book to read which talked about alternative treatment. Through this book, we were connected to a nutritional clinic in another state. God provided an appointment and financial assistance as they do not take insurance. Step by step, moving forward, God has provided.

Two weeks ago, I began easing into the new treatment which is intense. Within one week, we began to see positive changes in every bodily system. 

Two weeks later, changes continue to come. The biggest change is that after around 20 years of several visits to the Pulmonologist each year, I now only have to go when needed. My lungs are stable at the moment! (It doesn't mean they are healed, but that we are effectively avoiding allergens and germs as well as using the correct medicine combination.) What a blessing and surprise!

God is using this new treatment plan. We don't know what the outcome will be, but we are excited to see what God is going to do. 

As I walk this journey, may I glorify God! May He use my life for His purposes! I am learning to apply Philippians 4:11b-13 HCSB, "for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content - whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Stay tuned...