The multgrain bread did not agree with me this morning. I usually eat a couple of slices of plain white bread but thought I would try the other kind today. I have learned that my gut likes plain white bread better than the healthy stuff. You see, I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome--the diarrhea type and an occassional bout of constipation. Dealing with this dysfunction has been crazy for me and I'll tell you why.
I am an LPN and have known about IBS for a long time. I knew I had it. I have worked for Gastroenterologists and counseled patients with the ailment. I have been doctored by a gastroenterologist. But yet could not get a handle on it. All I had learned on how to treat it was to add fiber to my diet and take antispasmotics. Then the antispasmotics were scarce at the drug stores. I panicked because the diarrhea was a bit disabling.
I am a hyper, type A personality. Add fear and anxiety and a stressful job. What did I get? IBS. When I got serious about my relationship to Holy Dad I told Him that I wanted to work for Him. I also asked Him to heal my IBS. Well an amazing thing happened. I was scanning the internet and came across an eye-opening website: helpforibs.com authored by Heather Van Vorous. She told of things I had never heard of in all my nursing career. An interesting fact is That the enteric nervous system (ENS) is the only part of the peripheral nervous system that is capable of mediating relex behaior in the absence of input from the brain or spinal cord. In other words, there is a brain inside the bowel that is independent from the brain in the head. Her favorite analogy of having IBS is like having very sensitive skin, only the problem is internal. Causes of IBS are dietary and stress. Coffee (even decaf), fats, eggs. diary products and certain fibers are hard on the IBS sufferer. And I have to put something easy (like white bread) on the stomach first thing in the morning or
I'll be sorry. I was amazed at the results when I first starting watching when and what I ate. It feels like I've been cured of my IBS. Oh, yeah, I asked Holy Dad to heal me!! And I don't have to take any medicines for it with the exception of a fiber capsule before eating something offensive. The fiber capsule is unlike food fiber--it actually coats the intestine. I am sooo happy with the results but occasionally I try something new and discover it is a food that I need to be careful eating.
I share all of this with you because the cause of my problems is mainly stress. The definition of stressed out is: tired, nervous, etc as from overwork, mental pressure, etc. And the meaning of nervous is: emotionally tense, restless, fearful. Do any of these adjectives describe you? Stressors create a whole host of physical problems, not just IBS. That's why God talks about giving your cares over to Him, warnings of anxiety and worry, cautions of angry outbursts, etc. He knows stress can cause unhealthiness.
Let's look at Proverbs 3. This chapter deals with the benefits of wisdom. In the previous paragraphs I shared interesting facts about IBS. I took the time to read up on my dysfunction. Well God wants us to read up on His advise for all kinds of problems and solutions.
Verse 1 (MSG): Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you; take to heart my commands.
Verse 2 (GWT): Because they will bring you long life, good years, and peace.
Verse 3 (NIV): Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them on the tablet of your heart.
Verse 4 (MSG): Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.
Verse 5 (GNT): Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.
Verse 6 (MSG): Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He's the one who will keep you on track.
Verse 7 (GNT): Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong.
Verse 8 (MSG): Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!
Verse 11 (GNT): My child, when the Lord corrects you, pay close attention and take it as a warning.
Verse 12 (NCV): The Lord corrects those He loves, just as parents corrects the child they delight in.
Verse 25 (MSG): No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner.
Verse 26 (GWT): The Lord will be your confidence. He will keep your foot from getting caught.
Obeying God and delighting Him (making Him happy) brings on amazing happenings in our lives. He brings healing in all sorts of ways. Our lives improve so much--beyond our comprehension and imagination. He gives us His peace concerning the situations that He chooses not to change. His peace is a stress reduction by itself.
I am on day 17 of the last 21 Day Journal Note that I wrote to you about. Self-control is one of the features that God wants us to utilize. I am choosing to eat differently to have good health. What can you do differently to achieve good health? And remember that the key to my good health was well hidden from me until I made a conscious decision to serve Him with my whole life. Friend, He wants you to have good confidence and good health but you must be willing to do it His way--the right way!
For relaxation: when you take your bath tonight lovingly caress your feet with soap. Take notice of how the wash cloth or puff feels against the skin of the foot. And make sure to lather lotion on those tired, achy feet. There are lots of nerve ending in the foot and relaxation is brought on by massaging those muscles, tendons and skin. It feels really good!
Friend, pursue healthiness!
Jesus' healing and peace to all, Wynndy
