Two pictures taken at the same place, with the same amazing people, one year and a couple weeks apart. But boy, these pictures are not the same and tell two different stories.
The girl in the first picture with the purple tank top hated how she looked in that picture. She didn’t know what to wear that day and was feeling self conscious. She didn’t like what she was wearing but just went with it. The inflammation on her face is very noticeable to me now and the extra weight and bloating was another thing she disliked about herself. She did not feel okay or confident in her own skin. The next year also held a lot of unknown, as she wasn’t going back to teaching for her fourth year but rather taking a step back to focus on herself.
The girl in the second picture wearing a blue tank top and purple shorts is nothing like the girl in the first picture. This girl threw clothes on and just went with it. She felt comfortable and confident in her choice. She cut out almost all gluten and most of the inflammation disappeared, especially on my face.
She was given answers about her health and a plan to help with different challenges that she faced (and still does). These supplements and the amazing greens product she loves, have taken away the bloating and helped decrease some of the extra weight. This girl also has a small idea of what the next year will bring and is putting it all in God’s hands.
The girl in blue is me. The me I have always wanted to be but never given the chance to be, until now. The healthier me with more energy (most days), confidence, and the power to listen to her body and maybe recognize what is going on. Some amazing people stepped into my life and changed it for the better! They told me I wasn’t imagining things (that these symptoms weren’t in my head) and there was a real reason for most of them. My body was not working how God designed it to. They did not let me go empty handed, but gave me a plan to help guide me forward on this new health journey.
Honestly, it’s still a little hard for me to look at that first picture, but it also makes me smile. The girl in the first picture wearing purple was really struggling with a lot (physically and mentally) and was doing her best to just get by. She was trying to be okay and hide the struggles she was facing. Well, that girl is gone and not coming back! The girl in the blue has taken her place. No more hoping and praying things would get better.
Thank you God for wonderful people who brought answers and the strength to push through because the hard work has made a huge difference on my life. Yes, it is still a battle that I continue to fight but I can smile and say that I Made It (an amazing song by CAIN) to the other side of this mountain that I’ve climbed for years. I know there are rivers and valleys to come, but this healing journey is well on its way, and there’s no stopping me now!
Thankful for a God who sees and knows all that we are going through. Very grateful for a Father who listens to our prayers and brings healing! 🩷
Growth, Grace, and Healing 