By Desiree Future

Years ago, I was told I had a serious illness that caused some major changes in my life. My lifestyle, as I knew it, no longer existed. My way of life changed drastically. A major change was my way of eating. The once regular diet of eating whatever I felt like became voided. At first it was hard transitioning to eating differently, but as time went on, that became my new normal. As I had to acquire a new taste palette.

Fast forward to April 2023, I was just diagnosed with another life-changing illness, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Basically, my stomach can’t digest certain foods and when I consume them, I’m literally in pain. Because of this, I have to alter my lifestyle and way of eating in order to get better and stay healthy. At first, when I did the research on the foods I can no longer eat, I wanted to cry. My favorites, like mangoes, pastrami and wheat foods, just to name a few, would only make me sick. Little did I know that wheat is almost in everything. Who knew? I was understandably shaken by this new revelation.

At my age, I am used to eating certain foods. Some are loves since I was introduced to them. Others remind me of family members who have long since passed. Then there are the ones that were love at first bite (Carrot Cake & Sauteed Garlic Asparagus). Letting these go is like letting go my favorite purse where the once heavy strap has turned into a shoelace now.

While removing items from my cabinets, I had a conversation with my son. He reminded me when I got sick nine years ago, I turned everything around and I could do it again. As a parent, I am always the one to encourage him and give him the push that he needs. Yet there he was telling me, “Mom, you got this.”

I’m a firm believer that God uses people to help you along your journey in life. Here, it was my son who was encouraging me. When my child turned around and became the outstanding adult, I raised him to be. That was my motivation to get up and move forward. What’s your motivation?

Proverbs 22:6 KJV Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.