Strength to Transform

My life had a major change on January 20th before COVID-19 was ever interrupting all our lives. I had routine bloodwork the week before and my Nurse Practitioner called to give me the results. She said, “your blood sugar and A1C numbers are dangerously high, you have type 2 Diabetes and need to schedule an appointment with your Doctor as soon as possible.”

 

To rewind a bit, for over 15 years I have “wanted” and “wished” I was physically healthier. I knew I wasn’t a healthy weight and didn’t eat well or exercise. Pretty much every New Year’s and birthday I made plans and resolutions to make a change. I spent a lot of time making goals to work at taking care of my health emotionally, spiritual, intellectually and physically.

 

I was a stellar star in setting and achieving goals in the emotional, spiritual and intellectual aspects of my health and would often think to myself “well, I am doing great in 3 of the 4 areas of wellness.” Deep down I think I was afraid to face the biggest weakness in myself, my physical health.

 

I have had one success at transforming a physical weakness into a strength. I used to drink only Diet Coke. From the time I woke up in the morning until bedtime that was what I drank. My daughter used to suggest I give it up for Lent and I would tell her there was no way I could do it. I really thought I couldn’t. I was visiting my Dad while he was very sick near the end of his life. I was on night shift and Dad asked me to get him a Diet Coke at 3:00am so he could take a pain pill. I heard myself say in my head “He drinks Diet Coke as if it was water.” and then I heard “so do you Kelly.” I saw what living an unhealthy physical lifestyle did to my Dad and I was headed for the same future if I didn’t do something different. The next day I told myself I was going to stop drinking Diet Coke. It has been three years and I have not had one since.

 

Even though I had the success of giving up Diet Coke, I think before the January 20th diabetes diagnosis I did not fully trust that God could give me the strength to transform my life.

 

I made the appointment to see my Doctor and discuss what the diagnosis meant for me. The first thing he said to me at the appointment was “Were you surprised when she told you the news?” I had to answer him that I was not surprised. My amazingly kind and caring Doctor had been trying to impress upon me for at least 3 or 4 years that I needed to do something about my health. I know there were three or more different times that he said, “your blood test shows you are pre-diabetic” and I remember thinking “great, I don’t actually have diabetes. I am just pre-diabetic”. It was like in my head I had dodged a bullet and just kept right on making unhealthy choices. I apologized to him at the appointment for not listening to the warnings. He was so kind and said “well, this is where we are. Let’s take care of it.”

 

On the diagnosis day I placed my full trust in God to give me the strength to transform my biggest weakness into a strength; to stop avoiding the part of my life that needed the most work. I turned to prayer for transformation and found Romans 12:1-2.

 

I urge you therefore, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2.

 

God has granted my prayers and has given me the strength to transform my greatness weakness into strength and I am thriving at working on improving my physical health.

 

When the closures hit because of Covid-19 I had a moment of panic because the WW studio and the YMCA (my weight loss and exercise supports) closed. I thought “Oh no, all of this work since January is going to stop”. Thankfully I adapted and my WW meetings are on Zoom and I have exchanged the YMCA water fitness class with walking and the journey has continued in a positive direction.

 

I am 40 pounds healthier since the start on January 20th. Also, at my four-month checkup last week with my Doctor (who was very proud and excited about the work I am putting in) I have cut the blood sugar and A1C numbers to nearly normal. I can’t reverse the Diabetes diagnosis, I messed that up when I didn’t do something at the pre-Diabetes stage but, I can and will continue to rely on God to transform me for the better.