People ask me often what it is like to be the mom to grown daughters. And I always tell them the same thing... It's amazing. The relationships shift and we become best friends, and in some ways "peers".... just women trying our best to honor Jesus, love our husbands well and raise our children to the best of our abilities. Once they are married, there is a transfer of leadership that takes place. Their husband's are now the ones who lead them and they are their own team now...making decisions together and bearing all the responsibility. I get to be their cheerleader. Their encourager. Their sounding board. And their prayer warrior. The concern and worry for them never goes away but it does take on a different dynamic.
I love being the mom of daughters. I love this season we are experiencing together. I love seeing fruit of years of labor as they build their own nests and raise their own families. I can see some of my victories being emulated as well as some of my struggles in their lives as wives. But I am also learning so much from them. They are teaching me many things as well as I watch them in their own callings and roles the Lord has given them.
My oldest daughter is one of the most amazing moms I know. She would never describe herself in that way but she really is. She will always go the extra mile for anyone in need and she has done that for her own family. When finding herself in a very hard season, she didn't throw in the towel. She struggled at times but she went the extra mile and found the answers to what she needed...what worked for her and her family to help her overcome a season of depression and be the wife and mom God created her to be.
I asked her to share her journey here. I've seen with my own eyes the difference her choices have made for her personally and for their family. She is teaching me so much in the area of health and wellness by choosing natural methods over what I've always known and done.
Maybe you will glean a nugget or two yourself.....
The following words are from Elizabeth as she shares a little of her journey.
I was done.
Feelings of hopelessness, immense inadequacy, worthlessness, and
self-hatred plagued my heart.
Most of my days were spent lying in bed while fatigue ruled my
life.
Deep sadness would suck me into this deep, dark hole, which I
found so much easier to stay in than have to do the extra work to dig myself
out.
I would remain there for days..weeks..months even.
My mind and body were continuously at war with one another — never
in agreement.
I mean, how could they be? I was sick. My mind was sick. My body
was sick.
Which obviously only trickled down into every other area of my
life.
My walk with the Lord and everyone I loved and cared for
suffered, and that genuinely pained my heart above anything else.
I was miserable, and I wanted out.
Something had to change.
I married my high school sweetheart very young, and the Lord
graciously (and surprisingly) blessed us with children shortly after. One after
the other they came, turning our world upside down and filling our hearts to
the brim. Giving our life such joy and purpose, which was truly indescribable.
The only problem was my body took a beating. I didn't nurture and take care of
it like I should have, so each new pregnancy stripped me of more and more of
the nutrients my body needed to function optimally. It was after my precious
Julia Rose, that my body started to go down hill. We had just moved to a new
state, started serving at a new church, and had a new baby along with a small
toddler who was basically still a baby herself. All the change was a bit
overwhelming, and I started to spiral quickly. I got pregnant with Nate only 5
months later, and then eventually we moved to another state for Chris to
further his education. It all just slowly took its toll on me for several years
to follow, and that’s when I hit rock bottom. I literally
hated the person who had taken up residence in my body.
You see, all I have ever wanted to do is serve the Lord and my
family well.
To love and honor my husband, to nurture and care for my
children, and to serve God’s people.
And all I felt like was a big fat loser.
Every day I had to carefully choose what I did that particular
day fearing if I over-exerted myself, I would reap great consequences in the
days to follow.
It took a ridiculous amount of willpower to even muster up the
strength to feed my kids daily.
I knew deep down my worth was not bound by how good of a mother I
was or not, but the internal struggle I fought deep within made me feel
otherwise.
I was on medicine. Had been, on and off, for 3 1/2 years.
I was tired of the way it made me feel. Sure, it helped me. It
really did at times. But the side effects were unreal.
I felt crazy, unstable, and out of control. I was tired of the
roller coaster I had been riding for too many years. It just wasn’t
worth it.
It felt like I was just putting a bandaid on a gaping wound. A
wound so deep, I feared could never be healed. I wanted to get to the root of
the issue.
My greatest fear was this was my new “normal.” This
was going to be the way I was forever.
I was back to square one, and that’s when I started
searching.
Essential oils had just started to surface more widespread, and I
was starting to see oil posts pepper my IG and FB feeds here and there. I’m
a curious gal, so they intrigued me greatly.
But let me just tell you, I was skeptical of those little
boogers. I mean, how could they possibly work like everybody was talking about?
I was a true hopeful skeptic. Hopeful that they would work for our family, but
totally skeptical they they actually would.
Our kids were constantly sick. I had 3 at the time, and they
passed everything between each other. We were struggling financially, and I was
the worst I’ve ever been in my post-partum journey. That’s
when I knew this was THE time to make a change.
I had a strong desire to live more naturally, but I would have
never called myself a “naturalist.” In fact, I was far from it. I wanted
to come off of my medicine, and I knew I needed to eat healthier and exercise,
but remember… I could barely get out of bed! How was I going to have the
energy and stamina to cook healthy meals?
I couldn’t.
But I knew I needed to take a step. Even if it was just a baby
step.
And essential oils were that next step for our family. I knew I
could DO that. It was an easy way to start implementing changes in a small,
practical way that could have the potential to produce BIG results.
So out of the blue, I asked my parents for the Young Living
Premium Starter Kit for Christmas as our family gift, because I knew it would
benefit all of us!
Still skeptical and with Chris thinking I had gone a little
crazier than I already was, we took the leap of faith.
We did it.
It was our diving board into a great big pool of health and
wellness.
That kit is truly the gift that keeps on giving.
It literally changed our lives.
And I don’t take that phrase lightly, but it’s
true. Oils have been life-changing for our family. YL essential oils have set
us on a path I promise we would have never been on if we had not taken the
plunge with the kit. And I will forever be grateful.
My kids are sick MUCH less. It’s very rare that
they are, and if they do get sick, it’s typically pretty short-lived. Because
oils are so versatile, we pretty much use them for everything you can think of.
You name it — Building the immunity, respiratory support, hormonal
support, aiding the digestive system, teething, upset tummies, carsickness,
anxious feelings, skincare, perfume, lotions, bath salts, dishes, laundry, hand
soap, cleaning, and so much more.
But like I always say, oils are just a huge puzzle piece in
striving for optimal wellness. And because of being on this journey of
wellness, we have been able to eliminate the chemicals and toxins in our home
all the way from our cleaning supplies, skincare, laundry, to our toothpaste.
Which has only led us now to taking charge of our nutrition. You
remember how I talked about how I barely had the energy to feed my family?
Well, we are in the middle of Whole30 right now, and I’m feeling better
than I have ever felt in my ENTIRE life. I’m cooking 3 meals a
day from scratch with enough energy to last for days.
Y’all, I’m literally in
tears right now as I type this. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. Did you
hear me when I said I am cooking 3 meals a day for my family? This may seem
trivial to some, but to me.. its everything.
You see, I remember vividly where I was (broken, tattered, and
beaten down), and where I am today.
And that is no coincidence, friends. I don’t take for granted
how much has changed in our family. Yes, it has taken work, but it’s
been small, simple steps over the course of two years that are going to have
life-long lasting effects.
Jesus mostly definitely healed my body, but He used several tools
to do it with.
And for that, I’m forever grateful.
What are your health goals? What are you struggling with today?
Maybe for you your first step is eliminating chemicals? Maybe you start by
taking charge of your nutrition? Or maybe you are like I was, and you just don’t
know where to start, but you want to start somewhere?
The key is to start. Take that step. Even if it’s
a baby step.
One of my favorite quotes lately, is one from Lara Casey, and one
I have told myself time and time again the past several weeks doing Whole30 is,
“She believed she couldn’t, so HE did.”
Let me know how I can be praying for you today as we start to
seek the Lord on how to honor Him by taking care of our temples. These old
bodies are His anyways. Let’s get them working the best we can, so
that we may glorify and serve HIM with every fiber of our being!