I've always loved this scripture, but I have come to love it even more over the years as I, and the people I love, have struggled with various physical ailments.
I sincerely try not to get frustrated when I watch other people disregard the sacred nature of their bodies, but I admit it's hard for me to do. It's one of my biggest pet-peeves to see someone take their special body for granted and treat it poorly.
Do I perfectly treat my body like the sacred, heavenly temple that it is? No, I don't. But I truly try my best every day. (And now that my basement is completely unpacked and organized {Hip hip hooray!!!}, I'm absolutely going to get back on a regular exercising schedule. Seriously, I feel so happy now that my house is totally organized after our big move! Hey, it only took nearly seven months to finish, but now I'm done! Wait, back up. Actually, I need to hang pictures on the walls and go through our paperwork so we're ready to file our taxes, but everything else is complete—which feels unbelievably great!!!)
But you see, I know what it feels like to be ill for a long period of time. I know what it feels like to live inside a body that isn't able to do everything I want it to do. I have hypothyroidism that was difficult to deal with for nine years. I thought my body's hypothyroid state was just the way I was going to live the rest of my life...until I moved to Texas. Thankfully, through speaking with four wonderful souls (two Texans, two Utahns) who convinced me it was safe to do, I switched medications and feel so much better than I used to. I'm now on the fantastic Armour Thyroid and can't live without it!
Still, I will never forget those feelings of extreme fatigue, lethargy, brain fog, cold hands and feet, brittle hair/nails, and numerous other side effects of an under-treated thyroid—even though blood tests always showed my thyroid levels were in the correct range. I still occasionally feel those feelings if I've done too much in one day (because my body can't just make thyroid hormone—I have to wait for a pill to replenish my reserves), but I never want to experience those feelings on a regular basis ever again! And now that my body feels so much better, I have that much more of an intense desire to take good care of the temple that I have been given. :)
I remember a great scene from the epic movie "Out Of Africa" where Meryl Streep's character said to Robert Redford's character, "I've paid a price for all I own."
He replied, "What is it exactly that's yours?"
She didn't respond, so he followed up with,
"We're not owners here...we're just passing through."
I fully agree with his statement! I think so many of us forget (it's easy to do) that e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. on this earth belongs to our Heavenly Father (God)—including our own bodies. I also happen to wholeheartedly believe what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches: that one day our spirits and our deceased bodies will be reunited in a glorious resurrection.
Thus, I feel like doing whatever I can to "glorify God in my body and spirit," because I truly belong to Him. And I will never forget that I was "bought with a price" through our Savior, Jesus Christ. How could I ever take advantage of His wonderful gift? No, I could never take advantage of His sacrifice because that would be like slapping His face. Yes, I want to spend my days following the promptings, inspirations, and revelations of the Holy Ghost—for He tells us what our Savior and Heavenly Father desire for each of us to do with our lives...all we have to do is listen to Him.
Indeed, I want to show Heavenly Father that I've been a good steward of the gift He's given me on Earth. :)
I feel that one of the best ways we can glorify our Heavenly Father is by never ingesting anything into our precious bodies that would interfere with our spirits and our bodies coming together as one. Obviously, there are endless products available in our world like alcohol, drugs, tobacco, caffeine, even excessive amounts of refined sugars and overly processed foods, etc.—that totally hinder our spirits' abilities to connect with our bodies in the way our Heavenly Father intended. I also refer to those vices as masks. I think those worldly products mask our bodies' functions to the point that our spirits are held captive—then our spirits are unable to control the body in the way they were designed to.
Additionally, it would be wonderful if all of us were exercising regularly, sleeping well as often as possible, and not participating in activities that would be detrimental to our souls.
Basically, I believe all of us should really study and pray about what is best for our bodies. Then, we should only do those things which will aid in our spirits' abilities to connect with our bodies—so we become super strong souls! If our spirits are fully able to connect with and control our bodies, then we are capable of fulfilling our special missions on Earth. And each of us truly has a special mission to fulfill before we leave this earthly life!
Lastly, I included the cute little bird in my typographic design to illustrate the fact that—as the scriptures state in Luke 12: 6-7—every sparrow is important to our Heavenly Father, and yet we have more value than many sparrows! :) Also, when we take good care of our bodies, we are free from the problems and addictions that could afflict us. Thus, we become free as a bird! :)
I know to some people my views may seem too idealistic, but I truly believe what I've written. I hope everyone can see the eternal value of their precious bodies and treat them like the beautiful temples that they are!
I have never heard of desiccated thyroid medicine until now. I am hypothyroid and I've been on Synthroid for 4 years with only minimal improvement even though my blood work shows normal. The brain fog is still there as is the dry skin and cold sensitivity. I will ask my doctor about it, thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteRpp, I'm sorry I forgot about this comment until now. Hopefully your doctor will agree to let you try some version of desiccated thyroid, as there are many options available. I hope even more that you feel better soon! :)
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