"When God closes one door, He opens a window?"
I always looked at it in terms of jobs or careers. I never really thought about this in any other context until this morning during prayer time.
Several months ago I felt the calling to really examine my health. The Standard American Diet (SAD) wasn't cutting it for me. I knew that the depression, anxiety, acne, allergies, weight gain, stomach issues, mood swings, were not normal nor did I need a pill to control them (please note, there is a time and place for medicine and medical intervention).
I discovered great resources like The Primal Blueprint
, Mama and Baby Love, and Hungry for Change
that taught me I was right. The SAD is no way to live. Breaking free from the bonds grains and processed and/or fake sugars has freed me to a happy and healthy life without medication. YAY!However, when I started changing my lifestyle to be more and more grain free, I was angry, I mean ANGRY with God.
Why would He give me a love (might I say, gift?) of baking yet, I felt like He was taking it away from me. This was my livelihood! I mean I could continue to bake, but the temptation of snitching bites of cookie dough or licking the frosting knife too great. It's a slippery slope that takes me back to a dark place. No need to regularly play in the devil's playground.
How could God take something inherently good (food! and sharing it with family!) and let it be something evil for me?
I wrestled with this for many moons.
In talking with friends and my spiritual director, I've learned that balance and moderation are key. Anytime you take something to excess it because dangerous / evil. Or anytime you significantly lack in doing something good, same thing.
Also, I was called out - I find it easy to surrender suffering to the Lord, but had I truly given thanks and glory for the gifts and talents that I have? No, I had not. I had/have taken them for granted.
During these weeks and months as I've felt the door of my baking days close, the Lord has opened a new window of opportunity to share my craftiness - photography.
This is a healthy, creative outlet that I can share with friends, family, and hopefully soon, clients.
I am thankful for this gift. I am thankful the Lord has given me the clarity to see and seek HIM in all things; the joys and the sufferings.
I look forward to the ever-evolving things the Lord will show me by following his call and responding with a YES even though I don't know what the future holds!
I love this post. What's so great is your health isn't just a fad diet, but a lifestyle change. I also gave up grains and sugar a couple months ago and felt so good that I decided to try Paleo for 30 days. I have never felt better. I know I'll never go back to the way I was eating. We should share recipes! I made an awesome pork tenderloin this weekend. I'm also super excited to see your photos. You've always had a knack for it. And Paleo or grain-free baking is definitely a new challenge if you choose to give it a go :) Thanks for sharing this stuff in your blog.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the best!??! We are more of an 80%-20% in reality, but the closer we are to 100% the better we feel. We've bought all the Primal Blueprint cookbooks, as well as the two Mama and Baby Love ones (she has some awesome grain free baking recipes!)
ReplyDeleteI love this. Although I'm not a baker, I have some similar thoughts about my relationship with food. yay for health and new hobbies! :)
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