One of the constants of life is change. For the female gender, the changes are not only physical, but emotional as well, and a woman’s physiology and calling put her through many life stages. As the “weaker vessel” this takes some getting used to. Just when you feel like you have things under control, a pregnancy or two alters things once again. Then, when your child bearing days are over, there comes another transition, one that many people, especially women, don’t really want to talk about–aging. This stage can be especially cruel if a woman has bought into the idea of perpetual youth and the need to cover each and every gray hair that appears.
I have a recommendation for women of all ages. Whether you are at the beginning of the journey or nearing the finish line, there are a number of terms that you should research in order to avoid becoming a casualty of poor health and nutrition. Among them are: puberty, premenstrual syndrome, adrenal fatigue, gluten intolerance, anovulatory cycles, post-partum hormonal changes, perimenopause, metabolic syndrome, and fatty liver, just to name a few.
Some of these are regular stages in a woman’s life. Others are anomalies that can have adverse effects on a woman’s health and well-being. Rather than make this the definitive discussion on these topics, I invite you to research them yourself. Find out if any of the “problems” you encounter in your day-to-day life could have a physiological root. This isn’t meant to excuse bad behavior that stems from failing to abide by God’s law-word. Instead, it is a means by which you can have a better handle on contributing factors that may exacerbate mild irritations.
In your research you will come upon many different paradigms, some of which disagree with each other. Not to worry. This will give you a fuller picture of prevailing opinions on these topics. You will also come across practitioners who will offer help. As you expand your understanding of the biological, chemical, and physiological components of your own health, you will learn how to identify someone who can help you and someone who cannot.
Years ago, I found a practitioner who has become my “go-to” person when it comes to understanding my health. This long standing relationship has helped me become a student of my own health, so that I know that the buck stops with me. He pointed me down many helpful paths and I should have followed his advice more thoroughly. Over twenty years ago, he did a series of tests to confirm his hypothesis that I suffered from adrenal fatigue. When he shared the results, he said, “Andrea, you are familiar with the ‘fight or flight’ response to stress?” I answered that I was. “Well,” he continued, “some people run from the bear, while others stay and fight the bear. You chase the bear!”
Funny as this was to hear, I didn’t take his words seriously enough. He was telling me that I needed some nutritional support, but I also needed to deal with my stress. Twenty years later, I experienced first-hand the results of failing to deal properly with stress. By God’s grace, I have been given a chance, not only to correct this while in my sixties, but to be a herald to other women (young and old), so that they can learn to pay attention to how they live their lives: how much sleep they do or do not get, what kind of foods they put into their bodies, what circumstances they place themselves in, etc.
Take inventory of your life. Are you spending most of your time trying to catch up? Are you chasing your tail, unable to make progress in areas where you wish to succeed? Do your homework and find out how God designed you and how you can best utilize the tools around you to be a more active participant in your calling. Trust me; “chasing the bear” is not all that it is cracked up to be; especially when you’ve caught him, all you have is a growling bear! Psalm 90:12 tells us to number our days correctly, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. If we are going to chase anything, let it be in pursuit of godly wisdom and understanding.
The Kingdom-Driven Family 