Only Bones

 "It's not hard to decide what you want your life to be about, what's hard is figuring out what you're willing to give up in order to do the things you really care about."

After visiting the first 7 doctors at the beginning of the great gastro journey, I turned to a much more trusted doctor.

Google.

I began to study gut health. I have read countless articles, blogs, forums, and books over the last 3 years. I've studied the immune system, the gut, the brain gut connection, and more.

70% of your immune system is in your gut. Your immune system is what protects you and keeps you healthy. So, it only makes sense to me then that food is your first medicine. Everything I read circled back to the same first suggestion.

Bone broth.

For months, I ate mostly bone broth. I still consume a lot of bone broth. My freezer stays stocked. Making it is part of my weekly routine. I will admit, I get frustrated at times. I'm feeding my family yummy things. A wide variety of things. Special treats for different occasions. Food is very much part of family traditions.

And, me, I'm eating water made with the discards. I'm being sustained with leftovers.

Bone broth is made with the bones of a roasted chicken.

The most nourishing food you can feed your body is made out of what most people throw away.

God sustained me for months on end with what most consider waste.

Bone broth is something (a meal) , made out of nothing (bones).

I think God does that with us. He makes something where nothing would normally exist. He takes the worst moments, and makes them the best for us.

24 What I’m about to tell you is true. Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only one seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24

If it dies, if it admits it's weak and needs a savior, it produces many seeds.

We have to give ourselves permission to admit we are weak.

"Communion is connection."

When I think back to the foods I miss the most, it's the food that is tied to traditions. It's the big pot of chili, with home made witches broomsticks that we make every Halloween. It's the resurrection rolls I make with the kids retelling the story of Easter. It's the half-birthday cakes and cookies made with laughter. It's the pancakes made in shapes of snowmen on Christmas morning. It's the communion, the gathering of those I love.

It's timely God gave me this today. This nudge. I've been circling in my mind the dread of the upcoming holiday season. 3 months of holidays circling around eating. And going places. Neither are my forte in this season.

And He reminded me that it's the connection, not the food. It's spending time with those we love. It's making the best (bone broth) out of what we are given (dry bones).

Mama Warriors, this weekend begins the "season" for many of us. From costumes and candy, to turkeys and talking relatives, to trees and countless Christmas cookies - Remember it's the connections that He desires for us. It's not whose missing from an event, but whose present. It's not what you can't have, but what you can. It's not what you have to do, but what you GET to do.

And that’s not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. 4 The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. 5 And hope will never bring us shame. That’s because God’s love has been poured into our hearts. This happened through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3 - 5

It's making bone broth out of bones. And being grateful that He gave us bones. Not complaining it was ONLY bones, but praising that it is His best for us.

October 2016